HITS RADIO's Fill the Foodbanks campaign dishes out 25 thousand meals

Manchester comes together to help combat holiday hunger

Author: Michelle LiveseyPublished 5th Sep 2018

Foodbanks across Greater Manchster are thanking HITS RADIO listeners for responding to our campaign to stock up the shelves and stop children going hungry over the summer holidays.

Ahead of the schools breaking up we revealed concerns for the 75 thousand children who are eligible for free school meals who won't have access to them over the summer. At the same time a number of foodbanks were taking to social media to issue urgent appeals for donations due to low stocks and high demand.

So HITS RADIO launched a 'Fill the Foodbanks' campaign to make sure no child goes hungry this summer. The drive was immediately backed by Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, GMP, as well as dozens of other businesses and schools, and the results have been astounding.

WATCH: A snapshot of the campaign from start to finish.....

  • 10.5 tonnes of food collected in
  • 25,000 meals provided to families across Greater Manchester
  • 34 foobdanks and agencies benefited.

Michelle McHale, who helps run the Manchester Central Foodbank in Hulme, says, "This campaign has been amazing. We literally were not prepared for the response and the amount of food collected in. We have had to find a bigger warehouse to store the supplies whilst we dish them out to other foodbanks who also need them across Greater Manchester. I just want to say thank you to everyone involved, you have made such a difference.