The amazing acts of kindness members of the travelling community have been challenging each other to in Gloucestershire
The travelling community have created their own version of the 'Ice Bucket Challenge' and it is changing thousands of lives
Something amazing is happening all over the country in the travelling community and our hearts almost can not handle it.
In a similar vein to the 'Ice Bucket Challenge' that swept the nation in 2014, hundreds and possibly even thousands of members of the travelling community have been taking part in the 'Traveller's Challenge'.
The #FoodbankNomination challenge involves members of the community nominating each other to fill a trolley or a basket with food and supplies, and donate it to a local food bank.
And Gloucestershire is no different, with the Tesco at St Oswalds among several local supermarkets to have had trolleys filled to the brim and donated to foodbank collections by people taking up the challenge.
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Nelson Royles, 24, has lived in Gloucester his whole life and has nominated a number of his family and friends to take part in the challenge (Image: Nelson Royles)
Even though the origin of the challenge is in Bishops Auckland, County Durham, members of the community all over the country and according to some reports, the world, have been taking part.
In an exclusive interview with Traveller's Times, new father Watson Harrop, 30 said he noticed families in his local area struggling.
He told the publication: "It's overwhelming how many people have helped and donated. It's caused an avalanche of different communities coming together.
"It doesn't matter if you're Traveller, Pakistani, black, white... I decided we're going to come together and make a difference for people who are less fortunate than us over the Christmas period."
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Asa Rafferty and his son took part in the Traveller's 'Foodbank Challenge'
Nelson Royles, 24, is a member of the Royles family, who have lived in Gloucester for more than five generations.
The English Romani Traveller said: "This is happening all over the country.
"Me and my cousin Billy did it and we've nominated loads of people we know who have done it too.
"I've heard that towards London, the Asdas there are full, it's just a nice way to do it around Christmas."
When asked how somebody would take part he continued: "We've been donating at Tesco up by St Oswalds. You just fill up a basket or a trolley.
"Anyone can take part, I would say literally hundreds of people in Gloucestsershire have been doing it.
"Just ask anyone in Gloucestershire, they'll have done it or know people that have."
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Lee Smith taking part in the Traveller's Foodbank Challenge
Speaking to Gloucestershire Live Harry Joe Brazil, 25 from Churchdown, who also took part in the challenge with a number of his friends and family said: "We donated down last Tuesday at the Tesco foodbank in Quedgeley.
"Me and my old man did it there, my sister did it in the Tesco St Oswalds.
"Other family and friends did it in Asda in Gloucester, Cheltenham and Brockworth."
Harry, who has lived in Churchdown his whole life and is married with a four-month-old daughter, believes that an incredible '20-30' members of his friends and family have taken part so far.
Harry Joe Brazil takes part in the Traveller's 'Foodbank Challenge' (Image: Harry Joe Brazil)
Asked why the challenge was important to his friends and family he said: "Some poor people haven't got food for Christmas you know.
"With the travelling community there is no telling how long it could last. It could last until Christmas, or next year.
"I've seen videos of friends doing it in Australia and Canada. It's just something really great to be a part of."
There are a substantial number of foodbanks in and around Gloucestershire, both stand alone in Gloucester, Cheltenham, Stroud, Tewkesbury and the Forest of Dean, and in supermarkets such as Tesco and Asda.
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Lee-Knight taking part in the Traveller's 'Foodbank Challenge'
Retail giant Asda acknowledged movement putting out a statement regarding the latest influx in donations this holiday season.
They said: "Our shoppers have been incredibly generous at our foodbank collection points all year round and the #FoodbankNomination is another example of their extraordinary goodwill in the run up to Christmas.
"We're proud to serve customers with such community spirit and are working closely with our foodbank partners to deliver this food to those who need it most."
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Many members of the same families have nominated each other - pictured Juke Royles
There have been reports of donations all over the county, and multiple messages of thanks that have come alongside this.
Tewkesbury Foodbank put a post on their Facebook saying: "We'd like to say a big THANK YOU to the travelling community who came in with a large donation of food today THANK YOU."
The Trussell Trust who organise foodbanks all over the country and have multiple locations in Gloucestershire, put out a tweet asking those kind enough to donate use their website map to find their local foodbank.
The Trussell Trust aren't the only ones on Twitter showing their support, here's a few more people who are fully throwing themselves behind this brilliant movement.
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Danny Birch takes part in the Traveller's 'Foodbank Challenge'
Have you or anyone you know taken part in the challenge? Or are you a foodbank in Gloucestershire that has been touched by this movement?