Schoolgirl Emily Smith decided to collect food for "hungry people" after watching a TV advert by the Salvation Army.
The seven-year-old from Saffron Lane, Leicester, was so upset that some people might not have enough food to eat that she asked her mum if she could start a collection.
Her mother Vicky agreed and posted a message on her Facebook site telling everyone about her daughter's mercy mission.
David Frosi, who lives in Market Harborough, saw the online message and invited Emily to join him on a three-minute supermarket trolley dash he won in a raffle.
Through the trolley dash and donations from friends, relatives and neighbours Emily has handed over £400 of food to the Salvation Army.
Andrew Richardson, community centre manager at the Salvation Army at Leicester South, said: "This is a marvellous thing for a seven-year-old girl to do.
"We run a food bank which is open five days a week and this food that Emily has collected together is most welcome.
"It has been a pleasure to meet her and thank her in person for her efforts."
Emily, a pupil at Marriott Primary School, Saffron Lane, said she wanted to help collect food after seeing the advert.
She said: "I was watching telly and it made me sad to think that there were hungry people.
"I told my mum I felt sorry for them and wanted to get food for them.
"The trolley dash was fun. It was kind of the man to ask me to go with him and for him to give me his food."
Her mother Vicky, 26, said: "It is typical of Emily to want to help.
"She is such a caring little girl. She is lovely.
"It was very generous of David to invite my daughter to his trolley dash and to donate all the food to her cause."
David Frosi, 32, of Market Harborough, said he was delighted to help Emily.
He said: "To want to organise a collection like this is an amazing thing for a girl of her age to do.
"When I found out about Emily was doing there was no question that I wanted to help her.
"The dash was at Sainsbury's in Market Harborough and I was just supposed to have one trolley but they gave Emily one as well and we had a ball."
Emily's grandfather David Smith, who lives three doors away from her, said he was very proud.
He said: "Emily is a fabulous little girl and never ceases to amaze me.
"We are all so, so proud of her."
The organisation that is now The Salvation Army was founded in London's Whitechapel by William Booth in July, 1865.
In 1869, the organisation was named The Christian Mission.
Its positive influence spread rapidly, and by the following year, 1870, it had 18 'stations'.
An early indicator of William's social concern was his establishment that year of a programme called Food-for-the-Millions, which provided cheap meals for the poor.
The Christian Mission was renamed The Salvation Army in 1878. As military terminology became more commonplace, William became known as the 'General'.
Mission station preachers were given the rank of Captain and uniforms suitable to the ranks followed.
Writing in 1879, William summed up the purpose of the Army. He wrote: "We are a salvation people - this is our specialty - getting saved and keeping saved, and then getting somebody else saved, and then getting saved ourselves more and more until full salvation on earth makes the heaven within."
In 1886, saw William made his first overseas trip, to North America, "to survey the distant front and to encourage the loyalists".
Today The Salvation Army is a worldwide movement, established in 126 countries.
It "supports and empowers vulnerable and marginalised people, including people without a home or a job, those who are lonely and victims of trafficking".
Information taken from: www.salvationarmy.org.uk.
The Salvation Army is currently running a Christmas fund-raising appeal. For more information, visit your local Salvation Army or go to:
www.salvationarmyappeals.org.uk
