Agents Do Charity - warm fundraising feelings

Welcome to this week’s Agents Do Charity, our chance to salute those who do so much to help others.

If your agency is doing a little charitable something which we should bring to the attention of the industry, please email press@estateagenttoday.co.uk - and we’ll do the rest! 

Chestertons: For the tenth consecutive year, London estate agency Chestertons has been collecting warm winter coats and jackets for London’s most vulnerable, in partnership with Calling London. 

Following the four-week coat drive, Chestertons employees volunteered to spend three days cleaning, categorising and counting the donations.

They have managed to hit a new record – more than 10,000 donations have been raised, 6,000 of which have come from Chestertons.

The donations are now being distributed to more than 30 charities and shelters across the capital, including St Mungo’s, Crisis at Christmas, Help our Homeless, Dressed for Success, Suited & Booted, Hestia and several food banks. Additional community groups have also reached to the Calling London this year - including a south east London school that sent a special request as some of their students’ families are facing financial difficulties and cannot afford warm winter clothes. Their appeal for over 70 coats was met, with a variety of sizes and styles sent to keep those children warm this winter.

Frances Manthos, founder of Calling London, said: “With the cost of living crisis and rising energy bills impacting on so many households, the need for donations has been particularly high this year. The support of Chestertons, its clients, suppliers, and business partners has been extraordinary and will make an immense difference to so many people in need.”

Rebecca Hill of Chestertons, who coordinated the project, added: “The success of this year’s coat drive wouldn’t have been possible without our generous friends and associates, including local schools and businesses who hosted collections and encouraged donations, and our employees whose passion drives the success of this initiative every year. 10,000 people will be kept warm this year due to the generosity and kindness of everyone involved – thank you.”

Agents Giving: The Agents Giving Christmas Stocking campaign has once again been supporting local food banks in the run up to Christmas.

Agents around the country have been busy donating treats to their local food banks and charities including Drivers & Norris, Dawsons, M&M Estate Agents, Paramount, Location Location and Line & James.

You can still take part and sprinkle some Christmas cheer by filling a stocking or two with goodies and donate to your local food bank, meaning in addition to the basic food parcel those in need will receive the extras that will make their Christmas that little bit better.

Sweet treats can include boxes of chocolates, selection boxes, chocolate oranges, tubes of sweets, tree chocolates & coins, Christmas cakes, bars, biscuits & puddings.

Collect what you can in your office, ask your community to support you by donating items, pop them into stockings of any size and donate at your local food bank.

Share your support at: https://agentsgiving.org/event/christmas-stocking-campaign/ and don’t forget to share your Christmas stocking donation photos. 
 

Barratt David Wilson Homes: Barratt David Wilson Homes developments across the South East have helped bring the magic of Christmas to children in need, donating a total of 265 gift-filled shoeboxes to Samaritan’s Purse’s Operation Christmas Child initiative.

A generous 51 shoebox gifts were dropped off across all Barratt David Wilson Southern Counties’ developments in Sussex.  

The shoebox gifts were collected across the developer’s Sales and Marketing Suites at Chalkers Rise in Peacehaven, Ecclesden Park in Angmering and Meadowburne Place in Lower Willingdon. The boxes were filled with a range of items such as pens and notepads to clothing and toys, and have now been packed up and delivered to volunteers at Samaritan’s Purse, to then be distributed across the world to vulnerable children. Globally, shoebox gifts will be sent to over 100 countries this year. 

Alex Dowling, head of sales and marketing at Barratt David Wilson Southern Counties, said: “We would like to thank the local community for their continued generosity towards this initiative, with every shoebox gift putting a smile on the face of a child this Christmas. Over the winter period, we remain committed to helping those both nearby to our developments, as well as further afield, and look forward to working with a range of organisations to offer support where needed.” 

Nick Cole, director of Operation Christmas Child UK, added: “The holiday season is a time for giving, and we are grateful to all those who have donated a shoebox gift this season as they will undoubtedly make a difference in the lives of children who will not have the privilege of celebrating Christmas with gifts this year. 

“We would like to share our gratitude with organisations like Barratt David Wilson Southern Counties who have opened their doors as drop-off points this year, with 4,500 sites joining our cause and helping bring great joy to many children in this 30th year of the project.” 
Find out more: samaritans-purse.org.uk/what-we-do/operation-christmas-child  

Fine & Country: Fine & Country Central Lincolnshire and Grantham has made a donation of £1,500 to Street Vet, a charity dedicated to providing free accessible veterinary care to the pets of people experiencing homelessness.

The cheque was handed over by Fine & Country’s Rebecca Brouwer to Street Vet's head of fundraising, Charlotte Fionda.

Brouwer said: "We are delighted to contribute £1,500 to Street Vet, an incredible charity that aligns with our values of compassion and community support. We understand the significant role pets play in the lives of those experiencing homelessness, and we are proud to be part of an initiative that keeps these cherished bonds intact."

Find out more: www.streetvet.co.uk