FOODBANK charities across Manchester are appealing for public help due to previous high demand throughout the festive period.
Last year saw 4,485 three-day emergency food parcels issued across the Manchester area, with 1,906 of them being issued for children.
The Trussell Trust foodbanks in the North West issued 18,279 three-day emergency food supplies for people in crisis last December, a 42% increase on the number of supplies provided during the rest of the year, which was 12,888.
The Trussell Trust is calling on the public again to help families facing hunger as the busiest month of the year for the foodbanks begins.
Adrian Curtis, Foodbank Network Director of The Trussell Trust said: “Trussell Trust foodbanks have always reported that they provide more support to people in winter, and we anticipate being exceptionally busy again this year.
“Last year, one mum at a Trussell Trust foodbank on Christmas Eve burst into tears when the volunteers gave her a teddy bear to give to her young son alongside emergency food; she thought she wouldn’t be able to give him anything for Christmas, and the foodbank was able to provide her family with hope, as well as food for her family.”
Curtis added: “Sadly, this mum is far from alone. This could be the foodbank network’s busiest Christmas yet, so we would really value any support you can offer as we help stop families and individuals from going hungry this Christmas.”
The above analysis of five years of Trussell Trust foodbank data was conducted by researchers involved in the NEMODE (New Economic Models in the Digital Economy) report from the University of Hull, Coppelia and AAM Associates. The results show a spike during the winter months, with the highest number of referrals taking place in the two weeks just before Christmas.
The amount of food parcels issued across Manchester during the period of April 2015-March 2016 was 50,318, with 19,593 of them for children.
For more information on how to help the Trussell Trust foodbanks visit: www.trusselltrust.org
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