Last Friday, Jeff Smith MP paid a visit to the Fallowfield and Withington Foodbank to meet the volunteers and discuss their role in the local community’s response to the coronavirus crisis.

The foodbank provides support to local people in need, and over the last two months have been working with Manchester City Council to help the increasing number of people who are struggling in our local area.

During the visit, Jeff met with the trustees and volunteers of the foodbank and heard about how they have helped local people during years of government-led austerity and the even greater challenges they have faced during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jeff was told about the increased level of support the foodbank have been receiving from local people in recent weeks, and how grateful they have been for donations of food and cash to support them through this period of higher demand.

Speaking about the visit, Jeff said:

“It was good to visit the foodbank and to thank the volunteers who have been working so hard to support our local community, not just during the current crisis but over the last few years.

Although sadly the need for foodbanks has been growing rapidly since 2010, it was inspiring to meet a group of people with such dedication to supporting local people in times of need.”

Local foodbanks are expecting the demand on their service to increase in the coming weeks as the government support schemes come to an end. If you would like to make a cash donation to the Fallowfield and Withington  foodbank you can do so here, or alternatively you can donate food at any of the following donation points:

Sainsbury’s Fallowfield, 347 Wilmslow Road

Coop, Copson Street

Sainsbury’s Local Withington, 496 Wilmslow Road

Lidl, 3-4 Wilmslow Road

Union Chapel, 2b Wellington Road (open during foodbank hours)