Tauranga's new pregnancy centre is putting out an urgent call for second-hand baby gear after fielding daily requests for assistance since opening in October last year.

The Pregnancy Choice centre has helped 43 women who needed free pregnancy tests and information about their options, as well as women asking for a cot or bassinette almost every day.

Pregnancy Choice centre in 11th Avenue and Christopher Street is calling for urgent donations of baby gear.

Highchairs, car-seats and prams are also in demand, as are mattresses and toys.

Pregnancy Choice director Janice Tetley-Jones says the volunteer team running the centre and op-shop are delighted they have been able to help so many women, but supplies are now running low.

'One woman who came in said she doesn't feel poor when she buys her baby gear here. We love that because we set out to make women feel cared for and special whether facing a crisis pregnancy or struggling to buy what's required for a new baby.

'As op-shops go it's quite different in terms of how beautifully it has been decorated, the warm welcome, and the fact that it is attached to a counselling and support centre. But we need more gear in order to keep meeting the needs.”

The centre is located on the corner of 11th Ave and Christopher Street and incorporates the op shop, counselling rooms and a conference room.

As well as counselling individual women, the centre runs classes on budgeting; and a ‘mums and bubs' group is up and running on Wednesdays.

Future classes are planned on baby attachment and parenting.

Janice says the op shop helps fund the free pregnancy tests and counselling service and so far everything is working well.

'We have trained counsellors here all the time as you never know who is coming in to get much needed baby gear and who is coming in for support and information.

'Community support for what we are doing has been great and we're asking people to continue to help us by rummaging through their cupboards and donating any second-hand baby gear.”

Surplus baby equipment, baby clothes, toys, women's, children's clothing and maternity wear can be dropped off to the centre any day during the week 9am - 5pm or Saturday 10am - 3pm.

Larger amounts of gear or baby furniture can also be collected by centre staff.