Questions about donating pre-loved items to Stripey Stork? You will find lots of information below. As a small charity we are not resourced to offer a collection service. There is, however, parking available at our offices and someone from our team will be happy to help with the unloading and carrying of items from your car.
Occasionally, we may be unable to re-home donated items. If this is the case, we reserve the right to sell such items and use the funds to help us to support local families in need.
The sizes we stock range from Newborn to age 16.
We kindly ask that all clothing is freshly laundered, sorted and bagged by size/gender.
We do not have adequate washing facilities on site, so any clothes which are unclean will reluctantly have to be passed onto another charity. If clothing or linen has been in storage, please freshly wash before donating to us.
Sometimes we get asked whether people can knit baby clothes and blankets for us – we love these items but please ensure no buttons are used (they can be a choking hazard) and a note of the type of wool used is included (for washing and allergy reasons).
Stripey Stork prides itself on passing on items in great condition. It makes all the difference to the person on the receiving end. If you are not sure whether your clothing donation is suitable or not, a good barometer is would you give it to the children of a good friend? If the answer is yes, we are happy to receive it.
We rehome toys, games, puzzles and books for children up to the age of 16.
Please ensure toys and soft toys carry the CE safety mark, which is a declaration that it complies with safety requirements.
All toys must meet strict safety requirements, whether they are new or second-hand. Toys must not:
Toys should be designed and manufactured to meet standards of hygiene and cleanliness and avoid any risk of infection, sickness or contamination. To avoid suffocation, plastic bags used for packing toys must be too small for a child’s head, and should be made of plastic which is of sufficient thickness not to pose a suffocation risk. Small parts are a choking hazard to children under 36 months of age.
If you would like to donate your pre-loved small soft toys, please wash them beforehand.
Please include the adjuster screws and bolts, suction cups for mounting on the wall, extension bolts and any other small parts, in a clear plastic bag, secured to the gate.
If you do not have the instructions then please look through our library of instruction manuals or search online, print and attach to the item.
For some items there are more complex safety requirements, and to save time and energy we ask you to check specific safety standards before donating.
If you have a cot, cotbed, toddler bed, crib, travel cot, buggy, pram, highchair, Moses basket, please check out our Safety Guidelines page to ensure the item meets the relevant safety criteria.
“Children fleeing domestic abuse are high need and in trauma already, let alone the layer of anxiety COVID-19 is bringing into their world at the moment.” This week, we heard from Emma B from Reigate and Banstead Women’s Aid (RWBA)
Please note that this story includes the subject of baby loss. It has been written by one of our regular volunteers. We are proud to
51a Albert Road North
Reigate
Surrey
RH2 9EL
Registered as a charity in England and Wales 1161613
Our focus is the Surrey region. If you are in a different region, see our map of UK baby banks to find one near you.
