Housebuilder team shares Christmas cheer by donating all gifts to local foodbanks

The South West's largest housebuilder is delivering all Christmas gifts received from suppliers to local foodbanks in Somerset, Devon and Cornwall this week, along with a financial donation.

Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes' Exeter team will be dropping off items including food, toiletries and children's toys and books to The Lord's Larder in Chard which supports the community around Blackdown Heights, Chard; Crediton Foodbank, on the outskirts of Exeter and near Victoria Heights, Alphington, and Launceston Foodbank, near to the new community of Chapel Gate.

The leading housebuilder is also donating £3,000 to the three community run foodbanks, with each receiving £1,000. 

In recent years the Exeter office of Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes has been inundated with gifts including dozens of turkeys, daily deliveries of cakes, sweets and chocolates and crates of beer and wine, thanks to the generosity of the company's suppliers and sub-contractors.

Since Christmas will once again be challenging for many people in the South West this year, the team decided to make a broader contribution to the causes and communities it supports.

Donation points have also been set up in the head office throughout December, with members of the Exeter team bringing in their own personal contributions of food and supplies.

Earlier this month the housebuilder collected donations for local foodbanks by holding free community Christmas events with carol singing at its the communities of Chapel Gate, Launceston in Cornwall and Coat Grove, Martock in Somerset.

Nicki Reid, sales director for Barratt David Wilson Homes Exeter, said: "Seeing the incredible work these foodbanks have done in these communities, especially this year and last, has had a real impact on our team. And there's no doubt, this Christmas will again be difficult for many people. So this year we've decided to support these key community foodbanks by sharing the generosity of our loyal and generous colleagues in the building trade, and giving away their Christmas gifts to us.

"The team has been bringing in donations from their homes too, it's been lovely to see everyone getting involved to lend a hand."

Barratt Homes Exeter's community fund donates £1,000 a month to local causes in the communities where it is building homes.