This week, the Den Youth Group completed their annual Food Bank Challenge. On Wednesday evening they spent 75 minutes at Tesco, encouraging customers to add an item to their shopping trolley to donate to the Haslemere Food Bank. 

Each year, the children are put into 3 teams and they take turns handing out the food bank wish list at the door and encouraging customers to add one item to their shopping basket. This is then added to the youth group trollies at the end (after paying for it that is!) Every child also brought donation money with them. This was divided amongst the three teams so they each had £13 to spend.  They then had to see how many items from the wish list they could buy. 

This is the 4th year that the group has supported the Haslemere Food Bank at harvest time. Last year, they filled three trolleys full of much-needed groceries. This year, they smashed their previous record filling four trolleys full of food items. Children’s and Families' Worker, Verity Sutherland, is already looking ahead to next year, "The 4th year we have been running this and we filled 4 trolleys so maybe next year we will manage to fill 5!"

Verity also commented on the generosity of Tesco shoppers: "We are always so inspired and humbled by those who donate and every year we are blown away by individuals that go the extra mile. Just thinking back the first year we did it in October 2022, we had one lady who asked if one of the children could walk around the shop with her and pick out everything that was needed. She said there was a time when she was in need and the Food Bank was there for her and now she wanted to give back. Last year we had a customer who bought every item on the food bank wish list and this year we had a gentleman spend about £100 on items. Really kind!"

The Den Youth Group is a local Church Youth Club aimed at 8 -12 year olds. They meet every Wednesday during term time (apart from the second Wednesday of the month). The group is all about having fun together while making friends, playing games, completing craft challenges and enjoying exciting outings and adventures whilst also exploring faith and spiritual connection. They also ensure that they make a difference in the local community & environment through their youth led projects. You can find out more information on their website.

Huge thanks to everyone in the Den Youth Group for their support and to Jo Bouslimi and her team at Tesco who always go above and beyond in supporting the Haslemere Food Bank. The Youth Group children loved the oppportunity to run their own items through the tills which they always love. And a big thank you to Tesco customers who so generously donated!