Church distributing hundreds of Christmas hampers

The project costs about £17,000 from donations from the church congregation

An Exeter church is distributing more than 700 Christmas food hampers to people struggling with the cost of living crisis.

Organisers at Rediscover Church said "incredible" volunteers were "bringing smiles to loads of people’s faces" this Christmas.

The project costs about £17,000 from donations from the church congregation.

Volunteers from the church have been packing the hampers and distributing them across Exeter and the wider area.

One recipient of a Christmas hamper said: "This has really made our week and will so help the children and I.

"Things have been really tough and difficult recently and we are struggling to pay for food at the table."

Volunteers from the church have been delivering the hampers

In 2022 organisers said they distributed about 1,000 hampers, but as a result of food prices rising, the cost to create the hampers have increased which has resulted in fewer hampers for the same price.

Bosses said in 2022 about 4,500 people benefited from the hamper project.

The church has run the hamper project for the last eight years.

Christmas hampers are packed with food donations from the congregation and local businesses.

Jason Ham, operations co-ordinator at the church, said: “This project has been made possible by the incredible effort of so many volunteers who worked tirelessly to bring smiles to loads of people’s faces at Christmas."

The church worked with local charities to identify recipients, including YMCA Exeter, Julian House, Young Carers (across Devon), Home Start, seven primary and secondary schools, LiveWest Social Housing and Exeter City Council, and a charity called FearFree.