By Jacqueline Grima
With 38% of children in the region now living below the poverty line, food banks have become an increasingly important source of support for Manchester families. Last month, students at Manchester Metropolitan University donated over 500 kilograms of food to banks in Crewe, Hulme and Central Manchester, which was gladly received over the Christmas period.
The campaign began when the Manchester Met Environment Team put out a call for non-perishable items, such as tea, coffee and tinned goods, supporting the work of the Tressel Trust who run 17 food banks in the Manchester area. The response to the request was overwhelming, the kindness and generosity shown by the students who donated making the food bank collections a huge success.
During December, Manchester Met’s Residential Life Team collected food from seven student halls of residence in both the Manchester and Cheshire campuses and students also had the opportunity to donate through the Student Union. The trolleys full of food were then donated to three local food banks who distributed to those in need in the local community over the festive period. Over 700 meals were created from the collection of food for the Hulme Food Bank alone.
This is the second year that the university have run a food bank collection event and the third time they have collaborated with the Student Union on the project.
Manchester Met Residential Life Coordinator Adam Rothwell said, “We are so happy with the success of this year’s food bank campaign. Christmas can be a lonely and dark time for many people across Manchester but the generosity of our students will make a massive difference to many individuals and families over December and January. Thank you from everyone in the Residential Life team.”
For more information about food banks in and around Manchester visit the Manchester Central Foodbank blog.
For more information about Manchester Met environmental and community projects, see the Manchester Metropolitan University Environment team web page.
Featured image and gallery: Sub Khan American dream-pop duo LANY bring the Soft World tour to Manchester’s 02 Apollo, in celebration of latest record Soft. In tow is emerging alt‑pop force Maisy Kay and Los-Angeles alt‑rockers Weathers, for a night of shimmering pop force. Opening the night, Maisy Kay commands the stage in a shimmering…
Featured image and gallery: Sally Stretch Fresh from a whirlwind run of sold‑out UK dates and a month of writing in the States, indie singer-songwriter Finn Forster sits down before his headline show at Manchester’s illustrious Deaf Institute to talk life on tour, new music, and the Teesside roots that keep him grounded. Have you…
Featured image and gallery: Lucy Elson-Whittaker Peter Hook & The Light play a one-off, sold-out show at Manchester Academy to celebrate Hook’s 50 years in music. Opening the night are the Buzzcocks, the legendary Manchester punk pioneers whose influence on the late 1970s punk scene remains undeniable. Aware of the crowd’s expectations, they launch straight…
Featured image and gallery: Lucy Elson-Whittaker Toots and the Maytals, fronted by Leba ‘Toots’ Hibbert, make a stop in Manchester at New Century Hall, celebrating the 50th anniversary of Reggae Got Soul. First on stage are Manchester-based seven-piece band The High Committee. Despite only forming late last year, they play with remarkable confidence, quickly overcoming…
Leave a reply