hi Mantaray - by the looks of things today, we will definitely be going longer - so do please feel free to kepe sending stuff. Yes, flanny flats are much needed for newborn packs - see below.

Thanks a bunch christy, we got your stuff today! Please consider this your formal thank you!!

livyloosmum - actually - the companies have been approaching me! I don't think there has been one single week day when i havne't had at least one email from a business offering some sort of help - it's been incredible! the only businesses I asked have been sanbrook (who donated 144 snappies) and pea pods - plus one other big business that couldn't help - so I"ve done really well!

chocolatecatty - yes, I just have to keep the old one open long enough to copy the updated info onto the new one- which isn't quite right yet. the new site is great, huh! the old one will have a link to it.

there is no real final shipping date - we won't send them all at once or that will raise alarm bells at the russian customs end - so we will start sending soon then keep on sending until we're done! The auctions will probably be a week long each, and we'll probably have 3 auctions total or something like that - spread out a bit. the first one will probably be in 2-3 weeks.

here's an update on today:

ok, well today (our brisbane volunteering day) went really well. We did lots of sorting, mending, counting, assembling, sizing and cutting out of liners. the size of today's task (and the size of my washing pile now!) indicates that this is going to take a little longer than expected! So there is no real hurry in getting stuff to us.

We put together 4 newborn packs today = flannyls, nice thin (worn) terries, newborn fitteds/aios and accessories, plus a sample of nappy rash cream, 3 covers and a snib. These packs will go out 'on loan' to mums at 36 weeks pregnancy, then returned when their bubs are 8 weeks old. Each time a pack is returned, a new sample of cream will go in it and a new snib - to replenish it for loaning to the next mum. We hope to do up another 6 of these packs.

Just a few important updates arising from today's events:

My friend is going to personally take back some items to russia in her own luggage when she returns shortly. These items will go to the orphanages in light of the large number of children they have. They will be in addition to any packs that the orphanage asks for. These included

-some very large new AIO's that were donated - these will be for older babies/children that wet the bed (very common amongst the orphans.)

-All of the training pants collected to date

-All the pvc pilchers - these can be used over existing rags to help waterproof bedding and stop bag usage - they will also be used to replace any covers in the mother's packs that fall apart in the future.

-the wool - which will be given to local mums to knit for their kids or the orphans in their local area

-all the nappy rash cream samples/sachets to replenish the newborn packs.

We had heaps of all of these things and more arrived today so we have decided to restrict a bit the things we are accepting.

we are no longer accepting:

-any covers/nappies containing PVC (we have heaps - and seeing they don't breathe they aren't ideal anyway.)
-training pants (we have enough)
-knitting wool (just for the moment while we are swamped)
-nappy rash cream samples. We still desperately need full tubes/tubs.
-Boosters - unless it's sent with a nappy/pocket that specifically needs it. We have HEAPS of spare boosters - thanks so much everyone!

Items we obviously need more of (based on an assessment today)

-more nappies/covers for newborns for the packs, above.
-PUL covers
-wool and good fleece covers - we have been given heaps of "fluffies" and polyester/pvc target style covers, but my experience of these is that they barely last a month of regular use, so we are trying to collect some better quality fleece covers - or wool of course.
-LINERS! and microfleece for cutting them out. Today we cut out 100 for the terries - we need another 200 just for the terries alone!
-Rash cream, once again.