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<\/p>\nCHENICE Balston, 30, is a cleaner and lives in London with her partner and their three-year-old daughter Liliana.<\/p>\n
She tells how she finds volunteering at a baby bank to be deeply rewarding.<\/p>\n
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Opening the box stuffed full of nappies, baby clothes and toys, I felt overwhelmed with relief and gratitude.<\/p>\n
It was October 2022 and, after going through lockdown, my partner and I were both out of work and struggling to afford what we wanted for my daughter Liliana, then just two and a half years old.<\/p>\n
That box, sent by baby bank charity Little Village, along with a cot and a promise we\u2019d receive another box in three months if we needed it, was the difference between us sinking and thriving as a family.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I was adopted at 18 months old, so my start in life wasn\u2019t the easiest, but I was lucky to have a very happy childhood with my parents, living in London.<\/p>\n
In June 2020, I gave birth to our daughter and I quickly found myself counting the pennies, making sacrifices and opting for more basic items than I had wanted for my little girl. <\/p>\n As I wasn\u2019t working during lockdown, I worried about how we\u2018d provide for Liliana.<\/p>\n We struggled for two and a half years, until the key worker at the Luminary Bakery charity, which I\u2019d begun volunteering at, referred me to Little Village.<\/p>\n The network of baby banks that supply essentials \u2013 including toys, books and clothing \u2013 for babies and children up to the age of five, was a lifeline. <\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n Knowing we had support helped put my mind at ease.<\/p>\n While I never felt any shame in asking for help, I was apprehensive about what to expect. <\/p>\n Far from the worse-for-wear hand-me-downs I was anticipating, Little Village provided high-quality donations, which gave me a sense of dignity. <\/p>\n It was such a warm and welcoming environment, too \u2013 it felt like something I could rely on when all else fails.<\/p>\n My mum instilled in me the importance of giving back, so that same month I began volunteering at Little Village for two hours a week. <\/p>\n I know first-hand how important it is and how dependent it is on volunteers. <\/p>\n Every week you\u2019ll find me preparing packages of baby supplies, clothes, toys and equipment for families who need them. <\/p>\n I now work as a cleaner and don\u2019t have to rely on donations myself, but I know it will always be there should I need it.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve seen mums come in with little more than the clothes on their backs, desperate for anything we can give them. <\/p>\n There\u2019s one who sticks in my mind, who came in with the hope of getting a few nappies. <\/p>\n We were able to give her a baby bath, a buggy, a cot \u2013 everything she would need \u2013 and she just broke down. <\/p>\n It\u2019s heartbreaking to see women like this. That\u2019s why I\u2019m dedicated to volunteering. <\/p>\n Helping mums who don\u2019t have much is the most rewarding thing I\u2019ve ever done.<\/p>\n Little Village is putting together festive bundles of warm clothes, toys and activities to give struggling families a chance of normality and some joy this Christmas. <\/p>\n I feel such satisfaction packing up toys and treats, imagining the smiles on faces on Christmas morning. <\/p>\n The families we help are just the tip of the iceberg \u2013 people are really struggling.<\/p>\n My daughter will wake up this Christmas in a warm bed, and spend the day playing with toys and having enough to eat. <\/p>\n I know, from my work with Little Village, she is one of the lucky ones.<\/p>\n I never expected to find myself relying on a baby bank to care for my family, but now I give back to help other mums like me find their way through the toughest times.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/crop-24877129.jpg\")
<\/picture>BANKS A LOT <\/span><\/p>\nSainsbury\u2019s backs our Cosy at Christmas appeal by donating 3k pairs of pyjamas<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/tp-composite-cosy-at-christmas.jpg\")
<\/picture>BABY BANK APPEAL <\/span><\/p>\nHelp keep kids Cosy At Christmas with our campaign backed by Kate<\/h3>\n
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![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/SMF10DECLIFESTORY001.jpeg\")
<\/p>\nRead more on The Sun<\/h2>\n
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<\/picture>FINAL FIX <\/span><\/p>\nSceptical Strictly fans accuse show of fix in favour of \u2018BBC favourite\u2019 <\/h3>\n
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<\/picture>KITCHEN SKILLS <\/span><\/p>\nSue Radford's daughter Tillie shows off cooking skills as she makes dessert<\/h3>\n
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