Players across Henfield Football Club’s youth teams helped to post smiles
on the faces of lots of elderly people across our local community, with the hundreds of Christmas cards and decorated jars they made for them for Christmas.
The children, aged between five to 13, enjoyed making and writing around 500 cards as part of the club’s ‘Score Some Smiles’ campaign, now in its third year, which were distributed to around 230 local people.
Many players spent lots of time writing or making cards, that were tailored to the recipient’s particular interest or crafting cards. They also enjoyed making ‘jolly jars’ at a craft afternoon organised by the club, which were filled with treats for gifts.
The cards and gifts were delivered the week before Christmas by members of the Club’s youth teams to recipients including residents at Red Oaks, Upper Mead and Terry’s Cross care homes, people living in sheltered accommodation, attendees of The Haven and clients of Henfield Home Checks.
The Club fundraised for this community Christmas campaign through a ‘Big Festive Prize Draw’, which was supported with prizes by many local businesses and players’ parents, and activities at the village Christmas shopping night. Money raised was also donated to the Henfield Food Bank which is part of Horsham District Food Bank, to help support families in Henfield.
Joe Penfold, co-chair of Henfield Football Club, said: “We have once again been delighted by the response from our youth players to our ‘Score Some Smiles’ campaign. It was fantastic to see so many players making and writing cards and ‘jolly jars’ to help bring some festive cheer to elderly people in our village.” He adds: “We are also really pleased to have been able to make a big donation to the food bank to help people in the Henfield community and are very grateful to all the wonderful local businesses and people who supported our fundraising efforts to help make this happen.”
Joe Penfold