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.
Caption: Dike’s Director Adam Vincent (right) and Sherborne Food Bank Communications Volunteer Liz Murray (Centre), with loyal customers Mark and Tessa Woodhouse, who contributed a large donation of their points to help take the total raised to more than £650.