A baby bank initiative has been set up in Derry to help struggling parents get essentials for their children.
Many parents know how quickly young babies and children grow out of their clothing, with many items only being worn a handful of times before they cannot be worn again.
For those in need, the Foyle Vineyard Church is planning a baby bank, where parents can come along to pick up clothes for children, as well as purchasing essentials like cots and prams at a minimum price.
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Steph McAlinden recalled her own experience as a mother and spoke to MyDerry about the need for this initiative.
She said: "I had a baby in 2018 and was aware of how lucky I was to accumulate stuff from other members of my large family.
"Once pieces were outgrown, I did not know where to take it. Myself and other friends were in similar circumstances, knew it was a need for many mothers and wanted to find some way of getting it to people.
"This initiative is important to me as I remember fondly setting up for my baby coming, it was a time of joy and expectation and anticipation because I had my basics covered and family helping along the way.
"I had the freedom to enjoy it and it is wrong that anyone would not be able to experience the joy that comes along with it because they cannot afford their essentials.
"It is a joy filled thing and if we can help cover the basics and take a weight off and stress off expecting parents so they can experience the joy of it, that is our goal."
Steph and her team supported families and people individually throughout lockdown, helping people with food essentials and electricity as well as new families.
Once lockdowns eased, Steph wanted to plan an event to reach more families across the city.
She said: "Once we turned out of lockdown we wanted to organise an event for people to come to and donate to.
"We wanted to create a space where people can come to get as much as they need from newborn to 3 years old and put a minimal price on larger items like prams, high chairs and cots.
"We also wanted people to get that connection and community that they lost in COVID as well, by having a coffee space where kids could go and play and parents could share stories with each other and find a space to socialise.
"We have also set up tots and tea where parents of pre-primary school age children can come along and socialise with other families and parents, grannies, caregivers and to just be around other people with kids."
Steph recognised that there is a growing need for financial and material support in this growing cost of living crisis.
She said: "The cost of everything has gone up and is impacting everyone. Those margins are getting smaller and smaller and we all need to help one another.
"This is just one example, I think there will be a rise in the use of food banks, projects that provide electricity to those in need.
"We are on social media, send us a message and get in touch with us. We are based in the Rosemount Shirt factory, there is someone there most days and if there is someone looking to drop stuff off feel free to come there.
"You do not need to be a member of the church or join the church to avail of this service. We are here to help everyone.
"We always have our baby bank stuff available, not just on that one day so people can contact us about it any time."
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