I was heartbroken hearing about mums showing up at hospital with nothing, says Loose Women’s Charlene White
CHARLENE White has opened up on Loose Women about the “heartbreaking” visit she made to a baby bank on Monday supporting The Sun’s Cosy At Christmas
The TV host shared her moving experience following the Princess of Wales taking George, Charlotte and Louis to volunteer at a Baby Bank in Windsor.
On today’s show, Charlene urged viewers to donate baby clothes to families who have a serious need for supplies, instead of hoarding them in their attics.
She told the Loose Women panel: “Anyone who is not au fait with what baby banks are about, essentially you donate clothes and toys to families who have got young children and who can't afford the basic so things like nappies, wipes, breasts pads, maternity pads, even somewhere for the kids to sleep.
“I actually visited a baby bank on Monday as a part of Fabulous magazine's Baby Bank appeal, and honestly the stories that I heard were absolutely heartbreaking.”
More on baby banks
Cosy at Christmas is The Sun's festive appeal following the success of Fabulous' Baby, Bank On Us campaign, which launched earlier this year.
Charlene shared how she was told about a new mum who turned up at a hospital with “absolutely nothing, just the clothes that she stood up in, and nothing for a baby.”
She continued: “You've got lots of women that are sort of leaving domestic servitude, that are fleeing domestic violence, who are refugees here from various war-ravaged countries across the world and they arrive with nothing, or they leave their domestic violence situation with absolutely nothing and it's the midwife that puts the charity in touch with the woman that's in need.”
Charlene, who is mum to Alfie, five and Florence, three, visited one of 200 baby banks around the country, Baby Basics in Sunbury-on-Thames, and brought her own items to donate.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Baby banks appreciate new or like-new, pre-owned items.
Each one may have different needs, so it is best to check with them first.
DONATE YOUR TIME: See if there is a group near you by going to .
DONATE MONEY: If you can spare some cash, you can donate by scanning the QR code, below, or by visiting .
CALLING ALL BUSINESSES: If you would like to donate to our great Christmas campaign, please send an email to fabulousdigital@mcb777.site.
The Loose Women host explained: “The baby bank will give them [parents] a Moses basket and in it there'll be nappies, some clothes, some bedding and stuff so at least they’re okay for the first few weeks or few months of a baby's life.
“I went through my cupboards and had a look at what I could donate when I visited them on Monday, but a lot of my zero to three-month-old stuff had already gone because I went through it with the kids when Florence had grown.
“Especially with the zero to three [age group], there's such a great need for that because people tend to be quite sentimental with their baby stuff and they stick it up in the loft and it stays up there for years.
“But keeping it up in the loft isn't really helping anyone.”
What are baby banks?
- Baby banks provide essential items for babies and young children whose parents are living in poverty – including nappies, wipes, clothing, bedding, Moses baskets, cots, blankets, toys and books.
- There are over 200 baby banks in the UK, and they run out of shops, community centres, warehouse units and even people’s living rooms and garages.
- Last year 4.2 million children in the UK were living in poverty and 800,000 children lived in a household that used a food or baby bank.
Charlene said many people keep items for “later down the line” to give to grandchildren, but she urged parents to instead “put that stuff to good use and to your family that really needs it.”
Earlier this year, the Princess of Wales, 41, backed The Sun’s Fabulous’ Baby, Bank On Us appeal, saying of the campaign: “I’m very proud to support it.”
Kate - known for her work to elevate the importance of early childhood - urged people to volunteer or donate as “the children of today will build the society of the future”.
Kate said baby banks were “doing an incredible job” to help parents and carers struggling to make ends meet.
The princess added: “Early childhood lays the foundations which shape the rest of our lives.
“The relationships young children form, their experiences, and the environment they grow up in matter.
“So, supporting and building capacity for those caring for the youngest members of our society is absolutely essential — especially in these increasingly challenging times.
“I am very proud to support this campaign to encourage everyone to play their part in volunteering or donating to this vital cause.
“Because the children of today will build the society of the future.”
In 2020 the princess — mum to George, nine, Charlotte, eight, and five-year-old Louis — brought together 19 UK brands and retailers to donate more than 10,000 new items to baby banks nationwide.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
Fabulous' Baby, Bank On Us campaign, in partnership with Save The Children, Little Village and more than 200 baby banks nationwide, has received the backing of The Princess of Wales, and a host of famous faces including Christine Lampard, Arlene Phillips, Leona Lewis, Aston Merrygold and Peter Andre.
The campaign has raised more than £70,000 so far and has been supported by brands including Tesco, Ocado and The Entertainer.