Doncaster Scouts donate 15kg of Christmas toiletries to help familes in need
Young members of a Doncaster Scout group have come together to help people in need this Christmas – by donating a huge stack of toiletries to families.
Young people from the 47th Edenthorpe Scouts and Pegasus Explorer Unit have come together to make a meaningful difference this Christmas, donating more than 15 kilograms of essential toiletries to The Hygiene Bank to support vulnerable families across Doncaster.
The donation, collected and prepared by the Scouts and Explorers themselves, included a range of brand-new seasonal toiletries and gift items.
The young people went beyond simply gathering products — they sorted, itemised, weighed, and personally delivered them to one of The Hygiene Bank’s community partners, ensuring the items could be distributed quickly to those who need them most this winter.
Serena, a representative from The Hygiene Bank Doncaster, visited the section earlier this week to meet the young people and thank them for their hard work and generosity.
She praised their maturity and compassion, noting that the contribution would make “a real and immediate impact for families who would otherwise go without basic hygiene items this Christmas.”
The Hygiene Bank has seen demand for its support increase significantly during the cost-of-living crisis.
Toiletries such as shampoo, deodorant, shower gel, toothpaste, sanitary products and skincare are often the first items families go without when budgets tighten, despite being essential for dignity, wellbeing and daily life.
47th Edenthorpe Scouts and Pegasus Explorers chose to support the charity after learning about hygiene poverty during their programme.
Leaders said the young people engaged deeply with the topic and wanted to take practical action to help others in their community.
The project reflects Scouting’s core values — care, respect, community and integrity — and highlights the positive impact young people can have when given the opportunity to lead meaningful social action projects.
Magda Jenkins, spokesperson for the 47th Edenthorpe Scouts, said: “I’m incredibly proud of our Scouts for the effort and thought they put into this donation. They chose to support The Hygiene Bank because they wanted to help families locally who are struggling, especially at Christmas.
"The young people took ownership of the whole project — collecting items, weighing them, and delivering them — and they should feel very proud of the difference they’ve made.”
This initiative is part of a wider commitment within Doncaster Scouts to encourage young people to undertake social action, fundraising and community projects throughout the year, helping them build key skills while giving back to their community.
The Hygiene Bank Doncaster works with a network of community partners to ensure essential hygiene items reach people experiencing hardship. Donations like this one from Doncaster Scouts form a vital part of the charity’s Christmas appeal, enabling them to support hundreds of families across the borough.
Anyone wishing to support The Hygiene Bank can find more information, including drop-off points and ways to donate, via the charity’s website and social media.