This Christmas, Sherborne Food Bank has once again has been supported by Battens Charitable Trust. On Monday, 15th December, Sherborne Food Bank welcomed representatives of the Sherborne office of Battens Solicitors to handover a very generous donation of £550 this will support the seasonal veg purchase that will be packed and delivered on Christmas Eve. This gesture of seasonal goodwill helps deliver a message of hope and continues to deliver the necessary Christmas cheer, alongside the food bank’s usual food and essentials, which will reach those in our community who need it most.

The support of Battens Charitable Trust is invaluable and helps the food bank continue its charitable mission to alleviate food poverty within a 7.5-mile radius of Sherborne. Recently celebrating 10 years as a registered charity, Sherborne Food Bank delivers more than 1880 emergency food parcels a year, distributing over 50,000 products in 2025 alone. This is all achieved by a dedicated team of some 90 volunteers who collect, sort, pack and deliver each week; and of course, thanks to the kindness and generosity of the local community.

This year Battens Charitable Trust celebrates its 40th anniversary, marking decades of unwavering commitment to local charities and good causes, including Sherborne Food Bank. Since its inception, the Trust has been a beacon of hope and generosity, raising substantial funds to make a tangible difference in the community.

For more information, and to read the full PR on the Battens Charitable Trust 40th Anniversary, along with details about how you can get involved, please visit www.battens.co.uk/Battens-Charitable-Trust

(Pictured Samantha Pattle, Solicitor and Sherborne office Manager at Battens, Dennis Finch, Sherborne Food Bank Depot Manager)

Hunt’s Charity Golf Day Raises £13,545 for Sherborne Food Bank

Hunt’s Food Group proudly hosted its annual Charity Golf Day this week, bringing together customers, suppliers, and supporters to raise vital funds for Sherborne Food Bank. A remarkable (and record-breaking) £13,545 was raised to support the food bank, which provides a crucial lifeline to families struggling with food poverty.

The day began at Hunt’s Food Group headquarters in Sherborne, where attendees were given a behind-the-scenes tour of the company’s depot. With the weather holding out, participants enjoyed 18 holes of golf and the day culminated with a lively awards presentation from Managing Director, Thomas Hunt, along with a presentation from David Kemp, the Chair of Trustees for Sherborne Food Bank.

“The funds raised will significantly impact the lives of those in our community who are experiencing food poverty,” said David Kemp. “We are incredibly grateful to everyone who contributed to support the vital work of Sherborne Food Bank.”

Image shows David Kemp (L) and MD Thomas Hunt (R) at the Charity Golf Day presentation

Read the full PR story from Hunts Food Group: https://www.huntsfoodgroup.co.uk/post/hunt-s-charity-golf-day-2024

For more information on Hunt’s Food Group and its charitable efforts, please visit www.huntsfoodgroup.co.uk/socialgood

Sherborne Prep has been a wonderful supporter of the Food Bank this festive season. Curtis, Digby, Tristan, Charlie, David, Ella and Tabby in Year 8 enjoyed a visit to our depot, where they delivered tinned food, biscuits and long-life milk, donated by generous families associated with the school.

The children met Ambassador and Trustee, John and Margaret Crossman who explained the importance of the food bank and how we help the local community.

THANK YOU SO MUCH TO SHERBORNE PREP!

Yet again 874 Sherborne Sqn (Royal Air Force Air Cadets), led by the amazing example of Flight Sergeant RAFAC Lee Currie, has made an incredible Christmas donation to Sherborne Food Bank!

Our volunteer Antony Edwards (pictured) was delighted to visit the Squadron HQ this week to collect the food and essentials, which will be put to immediate good use in the community.

Stalbridge store reaches out to local families in need

Sherborne Food Bank has been given a welcome winter boost after kind-hearted customers at Dike & Son supermarket donated over £650 during January and February.

The family-run food-store in Stalbridge ran a post-Christmas campaign, Spare a Thought, Spare a Penny, to encourage shoppers to pop their loose change into Food Bank buckets at the tills and donate their loyalty card points at the tills. This is in addition to donations made to the food collection box in the supermarket’s foyer.

Lots of local families are struggling after the expense of Christmas and with higher energy bills at this time of year. Sherborne Food Bank provides a vital service, collecting, packing and delivering emergency food parcels across the Blackmore Vale.

Dike & Son Company Director Adam Vincent said:

“Many of us have had that familiar moment of reaching the checkout only to realise we haven’t put anything into our basket for the food bank box, so a couple of years ago we set up our tills so that customers could opt to add an amount to their shopping bill instead. We then use the donations to purchase needed items from the list – at cost price – to put into the box.

“We also made it possible for our Loyalty Card holders to donate their points – each point is worth a penny – and we’ve been overwhelmed by our customers’ generosity at what is a difficult time of year for many people.”

Chair of Trustees at Sherborne Food Bank, David Kemp, said:

“Dike & Son is a supermarket with community at its heart, and we are grateful for its continued support of the food bank. The Spare a Penny initiative, and generosity from Dike’s customers, ensures local families in need won’t go without food and essentials while facing challenges in their personal circumstances”.

During 2024, its 10th year as a registered charity, Sherborne Food Bank made 1884 emergency food deliveries, distributing 51,131 products and providing for some 5000 adults and children. This entirely volunteer-run charity could not survive without the generosity of the local community.

Dike & Son has picked up numerous awards over the past decade for its community spirit and help for local good causes through its Making a Difference charity fund, which has made previous donations to Sherborne Food Bank totalling £2000.

Although the in-store campaign has now ended, the need for emergency food aid hasn’t, so Dike & Son is urging its customers to continue to support Sherborne Food Bank in any way they can.

We’re so grateful to Phil (L) Dike & Son Ltd for delivery of products, including much-needed toilet rolls, received by our Depot Manager Dennis (R). The products – all items we routinely need to purchase – were donated by the store’s customers following Dike’s ‘Spare a Thought, Spare a Penny’ campaign.

Their community kindness generated £650 in cash, food and essentials for those in need – THANK YOU!

Celebrating 40 years supporting local community good causes

This Easter, Sherborne Food Bank has once again been supported by Battens Charitable Trust. On Maundy Thursday, 17th April, volunteers from the food bank were welcomed to the Sherborne office of Battens Solicitors to collect a generous donation of hot cross buns to be included in every emergency food delivery made on Good Friday. This means a little Easter goodwill, alongside the food bank’s usual food and essentials, will reach those in our community who need it most.

The support of Battens Charitable Trust is invaluable and helps the food bank continue its charitable mission to alleviate food poverty within a 7.5-mile radius of Sherborne. Recently celebrating 10 years as a registered charity, Sherborne Food Bank delivers more than 1880 emergency food parcels a year, distributing over 50,000 products in 2024 alone. This is all achieved by a dedicated team of some 90 volunteers who collect, sort, pack and deliver each week; and of course, thanks to the kindness and generosity of the local community.

This year Battens Charitable Trust celebrates its 40th anniversary, marking decades of unwavering commitment to local charities and good causes, including Sherborne Food Bank. Since its inception, the Trust has been a beacon of hope and generosity, raising substantial funds to make a tangible difference in the community.

Katherine Gilmour, Director at Battens Solicitors and Trustee of Battens Charitable Trust said: “We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all our donors, volunteers, and partners who have been instrumental in our journey. Your unwavering support has made it possible for us to achieve goals and create a legacy of kindness and compassion for the local community. Battens Solicitors set up the Charitable Trust in 1985 to raise funds and to enable grants to be made to registered charities and for charitable purposes in Somerset, Dorset and adjoining counties. During the last decade alone, the Trust has raised and donated over £537,000. Battens Solicitors is delighted to have supported the Trust throughout the last 40 years and remains committed to supporting all its future endeavours.”

For more information, and to read the full PR on the Battens Charitable Trust 40th Anniversary, along with details about how you can get involved, please visit www.battens.co.uk/Battens-Charitable-Trust

(Pictured Samantha Pattle, Solicitor and Sherborne office Manager at Battens, Dennis Finch, Sherborne Food Bank Depot Manager and External Relations and Natalia Przychodzen, Marketing Assistant at Battens Solicitors)