Ibstock-based Davidsons Homes has donated £500 towards food and essentials at Coalville Foodbank.

The housebuilder offered the foodbank the donation following a plea made in September asking local people and companies to give what they can to help people in financial hardship.

The mission of Coalville Foodbank - located close to the housebuilder's Head Office - touched the heart of Davidsons Homes Sales Director Stephanie King, who drove past its doors and saw families waiting to use its much-needed services.

Stephanie said: "It broke my heart to drive past Coalville Foodbank and see young children with their families, waiting to receive food.

"At Davidsons Homes, we always strive to support the communities where we build, but in this case, the need is actually near our Head Office in Ibstock – and we were very happy to offer them £500 to buy lots of food, drink and essentials for local people who might be financially struggling. We hope that the money can alleviate some stress for at least a few local families in need."

Jade Desombre, Manager of Coalville Foodbank, said: "Any way that local people can support – from volunteering to donations or raising awareness - will make a big difference for the people accessing the foodbank. 

"We'd like to say a huge thank you to Davidsons Homes for their kind donation, as it's contributions like these that allow us to continue our life-saving work."

The money will be spent on providing emergency food to people in crisis, such as tinned potatoes, instant coffee, long-life juice, long-life milk, tinned puddings, shampoo, shower gel and jam.

Coalville Foodbank has been open since 2013. The foodbank is a project founded by local churches and community groups, working together towards stopping hunger in our local area.

The Trussell Trust's 'Hunger in the UK' report has revealed that one in four people who access foodbanks are experiencing high levels of social isolation due to financial hardship. 

Locals are urged to help in many ways including: 

• Donating non-perishable goods, such as canned goods, pasta, rice, and hygiene products
• Financial contributions, which allow the charity to purchase essential items and maintain its operations efficiently
• Volunteering their time and skills, allowing them to directly engage with the people the foodbank serves, making connections and breaking down barriers of isolation
• Raising awareness about the Harvest campaign at church, on social media, within community groups, or among friends and family.