Sweet idea to raise extra cash for food bank

Lynn Hempsall, who owns Helmsley Traditional Sweet Shop, decided she wanted to do something following the sad news of the death of award-winning York teacher Mark Barnett, who was heavily involved in the food bank, from Covid-19.

The pair had met several times reviewing papers for BBC Radio York.

In his memory, and to help the remarkable work the food bank has been doing to keep people fed during the pandemic, the Sweet Shop has reopened with several ways to help raise money for the worthy cause.

Shoppers will be able to buy a £1 raffle ticket for a sweet hamper full of goodies worth over £25 – with tickets available online, in store and via the shop’s social media.

All the proceeds will go to the Ryedale Food Bank and the raffle will be drawn on Friday, July 17.

The shop has introduced a number of new items, such as a pic n mix box and a nostalgia goodie box – and for every one purchased in the first month of opening, 10% of the price will be donated to the charity.

The Sweet Shop, which reopened its Barker’s Yard premises a couple of weeks ago, has had to reinvent itself as a Sweetie Kiosk following lockdown, serving from a counter set up at the door.

Lynn said: “I really was very saddened to hear of the passing of Mark Barnett early on in the pandemic as he was a lovely man who was heavily involved with the food banks in a wonderful way.

“This fundraising is to pay tribute to all his hard work and the hard work of all the other volunteers who have done so much during the lockdown to ensure people have had access to food.

“We count ourselves as very lucky we still have a business to re-open and that we have managed to keep all our staff, but there are so many heartbreaking stories of others who have not been so lucky.”

Visit the www.visithelmsley.co.uk website to keep up to date with news from Helmsley.

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