The CEO of a Sheffield charity gave ‘a huge thank-you’ to people helping it survive during the coronavirus crisis.
The Baby Basics in Sheffield providing baby necessities for poor and vulnerable parents in the city has supported 450 families, as well as completed 100 percent of supply transfers even though they have increased 329 percent until May 2020 since lockdown began.
Cat Ross, CEO of Baby Basics on Glossop Road, Sheffield, said: “I want to say a huge thank-you to the people of Sheffield who have enabled us to support our families when we were desperate for help. I’m so grateful for all the contributions you have made.
“You have done more than just provide moms with things for babies, you have helped their anxiety as I know they are worried about being a young single mum.
“You really have made a big difference.”
The charity has been granted for £7,000 by Sheffield Town Trust. It was continuing its work under the pandemic mainly through Amazon wishlist donations, its fundraiser page and funds from other charity groups.
Tim Renshaw, CEO of the 500 Together charity in Sheffield, which offered
£250 donations to the Baby Basics, said: “We all know that these are unusual and frightening times. In view of the threat to health that Covid-19 presents, we have cancelled our fundraising events.
“We are concentrating on how to care for the most vulnerable in our community in a safe and sustainable way. Basic essentials for mother and baby are needed now more than ever.”
Baby Basics has seen a 450 percent spike in demand since the coronavirus lockdown began with less than two full-time staff and now can help more than 100 families a week.
Pauline Byrne, Baby Basics project coordinator in Sheffield, said: “It was very busy. We were working on a very much skeleton staff payment volatility, but we have been overwhelmed by the generosity from people in Sheffield who shouted out for donations.
“Foodbank and Baby Basics often overlap, and it is even more important that we are able to work together at this difficult time.
“We still haven’t spent an awful lot of money so far.”
More volunteers without symptoms and not in a high-risk group are needed.
Sheffield Baby Basics team
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