Housebuilder donates £500 to support charities food parcel project

A Bury St Edmunds-based charity was given an extra helping hand towards its Christmas project to provide 600 food parcels for vulnerable people throughout East Anglia.

Gatehouse, which is based at Dettigen Way, was given £500 by local housebuilder Bellway Eastern Counties, which is building new homes at Bronze Fields in Bury St Edmunds, as well as other locations across Cambridgeshire, Suffolk and Lincolnshire.

Amanda Bloomfield, CEO of Gatehouse, said: “In 2021 we delivered 600 food parcels to the vulnerable and the needy just in time for Christmas.

“The average cost of a food parcel is £10, so Bellway’s very kind donation directly impacted 50 families who are in need, across East Anglia.

“The project aims to deliver parcels to families from all walks of life, including those in emergency need. It is essential we try and help at a time which can be really difficult for many people.

“The charity has been running since 1986 and was originally set up as a Christian family service. We currently have some paid staff members and 25 longstanding volunteers.

“We have around 100 volunteers on Christmas Day, as we also provide a three-course meal and entertainment for people who would normally be alone at Christmas.”

The Christmas Project is one of four project areas covered by Gatehouse’s work. The charity also runs a foodbank, a community wellbeing project and a home store, which provides donated furniture and appliances to those on benefits or with low incomes.

Head of Sales for Bellway Eastern Counties, Rhiannon Jones, said: “The winter period can be difficult for a lot of struggling families and it’s projects like this that can make that time a little easier.

“The work Gatehouse does throughout the year is incredibly important and helps hundreds of people in need.

“As a local housebuilder, we are pleased to be able to help a charity that directly benefits those living in the local communities in which we build.”

More information about Gatehouse is available on the charity’s website at www.gatehouse.org.uk.

For details about Bellway’s new homes in the area, visit https://www.bellway.co.uk/new-homes/eastern-counties/bronze-fields or call the sales office on 01284 545375.

Captions:

• Amanda Bloomfield, CEO of Gatehouse, with Rachael Gatehouse, Sales Manager for Bellway Eastern Counties