Willmott Dixon’s team in Rotherham have donated hundreds of items to two local charities that support vulnerable people and their families as part of their Christmas community action plan.

The team handed over 100 food bags and 250 chocolate selection boxes to Rotherham Food Bank and a further 50 ‘essentials parcels’ to FareShare Yorkshire’s Hope Street premises for its Food in Crisis Appeal. Willmott Dixon also handed over a cheque for £4,000 to FareShare to help support its work.

Rotherham Food Bank and FareShare Yorkshire will distribute the parcels to local children and their families over the Christmas period.

As well as purchasing essential items including UHT milk, tinned food and toiletries, the Willmott Dixon team also donated items to the collection boxes and spent time at the food bank wrapping up the selection boxes so that children can unwrap them on Christmas Day.

“We are committed to making a difference to the lives of those living local to where we work and have a strong relationship with the Rotherham Food Bank and FareShare. The whole team in Rother really got behind our Christmas community action plan with these donations; we hope they go some way to helping families in the Rotherham have a great Christmas.”
Leigh Garbutt, community manager for the north of England

Leigh Garbutt, Willmott Dixon’s customer and community manager for the north of England, explains: “We are committed to making a difference to the lives of those living local to where we work and have a strong relationship with the Rotherham Food Bank and FareShare. The whole team in Rother really got behind our Christmas community action plan with these donations; we hope they go some way to helping families in the Rotherham have a great Christmas.”

Last month Willmott Dixon pledged its support to Rotherham Council’s Christmas Toy Appeal by donating £3000 worth of toys and gifts to give to thousands of disadvantaged children across the area. The company’s local team have also been collecting good quality second hand toys to donate to those that the food bank supports.

Danny Miller at Rotherham Food Bank said: “The efforts and donations of the staff at Willmott Dixon have been wonderful and we must express our gratitude to the generosity of the team. It’s great to have the support of a national organisation which is working locally. As a charity, we wouldn’t be able to survive without donations from the public and this is no exception.

“We work to provide support day in day out to vulnerable families who would otherwise go without. For many reasons everyday people in Rotherham will struggle to feed themselves and their families and these donations will go a long way to ensure that they have a happier Christmas.”

Willmott Dixon Partnerships is actively involved in supporting vulnerable people after naming FareShare as its national charity for the year, pledging to raise £20,000 through fundraising activities and volunteer work. Every £1 raised goes directly to FareShare to provide meals for hungry and vulnerable people.

Gareth Batty, Chief Executive at FareShare Yorkshire said: “Once again we have been overwhelmed by the support of the people of Rotherham, our local partners including Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council and Willmott Dixon. Christmas is a time for giving and this fantastic effort really proves that. These donations will make a real difference to vulnerable people this Christmas and with the support of partners like Willmott Dixon we are able to continue our work throughout the year.”