The This is Haslemere team never hide the fact that we're passionate about volunteering. We truly believe that volunteering creates a better, stronger community. We also believe that volunteers benefit just as much (if not more) as those they're helping.

However, we also recognise that not everyone has any spare hours in their week to volunteer. So, if you don't have time to give, but would still like to help others within the community, what can you do? Here are some ways in which you can help...

Donate food

The Haslemere Food Bank has been operating in Haslemere for over a decade, helping those struggling financially. It welcomes much-needed donations of food. A full list of items can be found at their website. However, these include products such as baked beans, soup, pasta, tinned fish, tinned meat, tinned vegetables and pulses, rice, tea, coffee, cereals and more. The Food Bank can not accept donations of fresh items. But to ensure that their clients receive fresh fruit and vegetables each week, the Food Bank will buy these items themselves along with items such as cheese and eggs.

Donations can be dropped at any of their collection points. They have collection points in each of the major supermarkets - Waitrose, Tesco and M&S - as well as at churches and many smaller businesses in Haslemere. These include The Haslemere Bookshop, R Miles & Sons, Apothecary 27 and many more. A full list of donation points can be found at their website.

Donate to the Hygiene Bank

As well as donating food locally, you can also donate toiletries to The Hygiene Bank. The Hygiene Bank is a national charity, tackling hygiene poverty. Sadly, over 4 million adults are estimated to be living in hygiene poverty in the UK today. This means that they are not able to afford many of the everyday hygiene and personal grooming products that most of us take for granted. The Hygiene Bank exists to give people access to the basics that they need.

Your local donation point is at Boots the Chemist on the Haslemere High Street. Donations of new, unused in-date personal care and household cleaning essentials - deodorant, shower gel, shampoo, make-up, nappies, toilet roll, laundry detergent and surface cleaner - are all welcome.

Donate clothing

The Haslemere Clothing Bank enables you to donate your unwanted clothes to others locally. The group's aim is to to encourage recycling, eliminate waste, look after the environment and help those in need. Whether it’s items you no longer love, items that no longer fit, or simply haven’t worn, by donating them to the clothing bank, you can give someone else the chance to love them again! 

Donations of good quality, clean clothing can be made via the Haslemere Clothing Bank facebook page.

Give your old items a new lease of life

Another way to ensure that you are easily able to re-home items is to use the Buy Nothing Haslemere facebook group. This is the perfect way to find a new home for items that are in good condition, but that you no longer need. Post details of anything you no longer need from furniture to soft toys and from toys to bedding. As with the Haslemere Clothing Bank, this will ensure we avoid these items unnecessarily ending up in landfill. It can also help those struggling financially within the local community. 

Remember! Your junk may be someone else's treasure!

Make a financial donation

There are plenty of organisations within Haslemere that depend on financial donations to continue the incredible work that they do. If you are looking for a group to support, a good starting point is to browse the wide range of voluntary groups on the This is Haslemere website. As well as needing volunteers, many also depend on your financial generosity too.

Help promote charities that you support by sharing on social media

Many Haslemere charities have volunteers running their social media accounts. They find this is a low cost way to publicise their work, events and fundraising.  If you see a charity that is close to your heart, perhaps like, comment or share their social media posts so you are helping them spread increase their impact. This can all be done without leaving the house. And don't forget to share the This is Haslemere posts too! You can find us on instagram and facebook!