- An estimated 1500+ Exeter-based children are in need of food support this year.
- A city-wide effort is being made to get food and gifts to children and families in need.
- A Just Giving fundraiser is taking public donations to help brighten families’ Christmas.
A city-wide effort has seen over £10,000 raised as part of the Exeter Festive Appeal including donations of food, soft drink, books and toys to an estimated 700+ families in Exeter that may go hungry this Christmas. If any family missed the pick up dates, hampers are still available and can be picked up from Exeter City Community Trust at St James Park, Stadium Way.
Over 400 Christmas hampers have been assembled and made possible by contributions from Rediscover Church Exeter, Crediton Community Bookshop, Tesco, Co-op and Amazon – as well as generous public donations received from the Just Giving fundraiser.
Andrew Hardwick, Managing Director at Exeter City Futures, said:
“Whilst the statistics around the number of families and children that are in need of support this year are shocking, it has been incredible to see such a positive and generous response from the city. We hope the 400+ hampers that have been created will make a real difference to those families and children that may have otherwise gone hungry this Christmas.”
“This campaign demonstrates the positive impact we can make when we all work collaboratively to solve a shared challenge and to support the health and wellbeing of our citizens. If you missed the pickup dates you still have the opportunity to pick up your hampers from St. James Park football stadium”
Jamie Vittles, Chief Executive of Exeter City Community Trust, said:
“This year has been incredibly challenging for so many people. From the early lockdown where children had to be schooled at home, something we know had a huge impact on their learning, to families under pressure due to job loss or illness, this has always felt like a serious situation which needs a city wide solution”.
‘It has been fantastic to work with Exeter City Futures on this campaign and to see the amazing support which is coming in from both large and small businesses and individuals.’
Families who missed the initial collection dates for Christmas hampers still have the opportunity to pick up theirs from Exeter City Community Trust at St James Park on Stadium Way. To find out availability of Christmas hampers please email: [email protected]
Those who would like to find out more, contribute or support to the Exeter Festive Appeal can still do so by visiting: justgiving.com/campaign/ExeterFestiveAppeal
