CED Stone Group, which supplies natural stone hard landscaping products nationally, has given 160 Advent calendars to food banks in Thurrock and Rainham, near its Essex branch and headquarters, to cheer up Christmas for some of the poorest people in the community.

For several years now, rather than sending Christmas cards to each other CED staff have collected donations for a charity they have chosen. This year was a little different as the chosen charity – suggested by Kerry-Anne Austin, CED's Logistics Administrator – were the local food banks and the suggestion was that they receive advent calendars.

During November, a small gathering of celebrities endorsed an idea for the more fortunate to donate advent calendars to food banks, in bulk if possible, or maybe just an extra one included in the weekly shopping. The thought behind this was that it gives parents who have to use food banks one less thing to worry about.

Kerry-Anne Austin said: "Around this time of year we all start to plan our own Christmases with friends and family and tend to overlook the less fortunate with our busy day-to-day lives. With a little generosity and Christmas spirit, we are proud to be a part of this wonderful cause and put a smile on a child's face this Christmas."

The foodbanks receiving the calndars are from the Trussell network, which works in partnership with churches and other charities to bring food banks to communities across the UK. There are 275 food banks in the network and all rely heavily on donations and support from charitable trusts and businesses.

Kerry-Anne did a great job collecting money from all the staff and the sum raised was then equalled by her employer. This enabled CED Stone Group to raise enough money for 161 calendars.

Ashley Lovett from the Thurrock food bank said: “Thurrock food bank exists to meet the needs of those in food crisis, but thanks to the generosity of CED and others we have been able to do a little bit more than that this Christmas.

"We know that an advent calendar won't resolve all of the problems children face, but for 24 days this might just remind families who are struggling to put food on the table that other people in their community are thinking of them.”

CED Ltd. (http://www.ced.ltd.uk/) specialises in the supply of natural stone products and facilitates the use of stone throughout the landscape and construction industries. With over 35 years of experience in the hard landscaping industry, CED products are sourced directly from the best producers in the UK and overseas for domestic and commercial use.