Parish adds 'drop spot' for Babies and Beyond

St. Bernard is a new collection site for Babies and Beyond of Wisconsin, Inc., whose mission is to provide resources and support at no cost to women and families in Madison and the surrounding area.
“Making donation drop-offs easy and accessible will make it more convenient for families to help us keep up with the growing demands,” said Brenda Collins, the executive director of the center. “Thank you for making a difference!”
As a collection site, we will accept a large variety of new and used items for children ages 0-4 and for pregnant and postpartum mothers.
A pack and play with a Babies and Beyond banner attached is located outside the Mother’s Room in the narthex of the church. You can leave your donations in the pack and play at any time during the week.
They will be collected and transported to Babies and Beyond by a volunteer.
The list of acceptable items is long and includes clothes and accessories, books and toys, crib bedding, strollers, carriers, potty seats, swings, bouncy seats and baby gates and other safety equipment.
It also includes diapers and Pull-ups of any size (but the larger sizes are especially needed), and cloth diapers with no stains and with elastic and buttons in working condition. Open packages of diapers and Pull-ups are also welcome!
All brands of formula and baby food are accepted as long as they are not opened or expired. Other feeding items needed are: plastic and glass bottles, milk storage bags, drying racks, burp cloths, bibs, pacifiers and pacifier clips, teething toys, sippy cups, kid plates and silverware, high chairs with straps and booster feeding seats.
Maternity and nursing clothes of all sizes, such as pants, shirts, bras, belts and compression socks, are needed for the new moms. They also need nursing accessories, including nursing pads, nursing pillows, nursing covers, breast pumps (closed systems and pump parts), pregnancy pillows and menstrual care products. In addition to the items for moms and babies, the center is asking for stamps for postage, paper grocery bags, industrial food seal-wrap (for bundling diapers), individually wrapped snacks for volunteers, bottled water, rubber bands, safety pins, colored paper, kitchen garbage bags and paper towels.
Unfortunately, the center cannot accept car seats and car seat bases, booster seats, cribs and crib bumpers, Rock ‘n Plays, children’s clothes in size 6 or above, non-maternity adult clothing and any items that are excessively old or worn, ripped, stained, damaged, broken or missing pieces. However, the center is now recycling textiles that can no longer be used. Clothing or blankets that are ripped, stained or old can be dropped off for recycling. Simply place these items in a garbage bag labelled “Textile Recycling.”
For a complete list of needs, go to babiesandbeyondwi.org/ donations/material/.