What began with a delivery of Christmas presents to children at Bassetlaw Hospital has grown into a brilliant year-round partnership between Butternut Box and Doncaster & Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals Charity.
Over the years, members of the Butternut Box team have given their time, energy and enthusiasm to support our hospitals in all sorts of ways; from volunteering at fundraising events and taking part in our charity abseil, to festive activities, Santa visits and Easter gifts for children in hospital.
For Butternut Box, supporting Bassetlaw Hospital felt like a natural place to start.
“As a certified B Corp company, community involvement has always been important to us,” they said.
“Bassetlaw Hospital is the local hospital to our Rudie’s Kitchen and Ace’s Pantry sites, so being able to support and give back to our local community means the world to us.
“What started as a delivery of Christmas gifts to the Bassetlaw Hospital children’s ward has grown into a full year-round calendar of giving back, and we couldn’t be prouder.”
A partnership that kept growing
That first Christmas delivery remains particularly special to the team.
“Our partnership with the hospital Charity began when we reached out to see how Butternut could support Bassetlaw Hospital,” they said.
“Our first initiative together was bringing gifts to the children’s ward at Christmas, which will always hold a special place in my heart and is the event I look forward to most each year.”
Since then, the partnership has grown considerably.
Butternut Box colleagues have volunteered at Charity events including our abseil and record fairs, supported festive activities and Santa visits at Bassetlaw Hospital, and donated Easter gifts.
Some of the team even went one step further at the abseil.
“Not only did our squad get to help out on the day, but a few brave team members even took the plunge and tackled the abseil themselves!
“It’s been incredible to support the hospital in so many different ways over the years.”
Giving time as well as money
One of the things we value most about our relationship with Butternut Box is the willingness of their team to simply get involved.
For them, volunteering is not only about supporting a cause they care about, but also about bringing colleagues together.
“Our squad takes immense pride in going out into the community to support a cause that truly matters to them,” they said.
“Beyond the impact we make, it’s also become a wonderfully meaningful team-bonding experience. It gives squad members from different departments the chance to work side by side, bond and build lasting connections.”
The connection to Bassetlaw Hospital is also a personal one for many of their colleagues.
“Many of our squad live nearby. It is where they’ve welcomed newborn babies, been cared for during surgery, and shared in both joyful and tough moments.
“Because it’s a place we all rely on, fundraising for it feels deeply personal. Supporting a hospital that takes such good care of us and our peers is our way of giving back to a true cornerstone of our community.”
Starting with a conversation
For businesses thinking about supporting their own local charity, Butternut Box has some simple advice: ask what is needed.
“My personal advice would be to start by asking the charity what they truly need support with, rather than coming in with a set idea,” they said.
“The team at Bassetlaw may be small, but they are mighty! They already organise some incredible activities and initiatives, so the best way to help is simply by offering a willing pair of hands.”
That collaborative approach has been at the heart of the partnership from the very beginning.
“Whenever we try something new, I always think back to that very first meeting,” they said.
“Melanie and Sarah (DBTH Charity Fundraising Team) came to meet Grace and me in our Rudie’s Kitchen, and we all sat there not quite knowing how we could support each other yet – just knowing in our hearts that we wanted to make a difference.
“Looking at how far we’ve come since then, both in our relationship and in the volunteering we’ve done together, it proves that you don’t need all the answers right away. As long as you have the heart and ambition to help, amazing things will follow.”
Looking ahead
And the partnership is still growing.
Butternut Box is now looking forward to expanding its volunteering to include Doncaster as well as Bassetlaw, with more activity planned over Christmas and beyond.
“I’m so excited to expand our volunteering to include your Doncaster site throughout Christmas and beyond,” they said.
“There’s so much joy that comes with the festive season, and I can’t wait to jump into all the wonderful activities and celebrations ahead.”
The team also wanted to give a special thank you to Melanie and Sarah for helping the partnership flourish.
“Thank you both so much for allowing us to support the great work you and Bassetlaw Hospital do. When we first met, we had no idea just how strong this relationship would become or how much of a difference we could make in the community together.”
We’re incredibly grateful to everyone at Butternut Box for continuing to give their time, enthusiasm and support to our Charity.
What started with one Christmas delivery has grown into a partnership we’re very proud of and we can’t wait to see what comes next.