This year, times are tough. As energy bills soar and the cost of living skyrockets, many are facing a winter where they will struggle to heat their homes and feed themselves and their families - but nobody should be going hungry.
We are launching our Manchester Evening News Christmas campaign, partnering with a charity that does incredible work in our region to help tackle hunger in Greater Manchester.
We've thought very hard about which of the brilliant charities in our region to support, but have decided on a really special one. This organisation is small but mighty - they work to tackle hunger directly and are run by someone who has used foodbanks himself.
They have a unique approach to the classic 'food bank', aiming to stamp out intergenerational cycles of food poverty through providing a suite of services to help lift people out of hunger.
We love this charity because they treat every person with the dignity and respect we all deserve. They provide a lifeline for families and individuals across the region, delivering in unmarked vans to maintain privacy, and providing people in need with choice over what they eat.
This year, we are working with Humans MCR to raise money and make sure nobody goes hungry in Greater Manchester this Christmas. Humans MCR are based in Blackley, North Manchester, but work with families and individuals in need across Manchester, Salford, Rochdale, Trafford, and Stockport.
The team aim to give 'respect, health, dignity and hope to those in our communities', and provide a number of services to those struggling. Humans MCR want to break intergenerational cycles of poverty by helping them with emergency food packages until they are ready to transition to their community grocers programme, where they can buy groceries at slashed prices.
MEN Editor Sarah Lester said: "I know everyone is finding it tough to pay their bills this year, but if you can spare even a little to help the most vulnerable in our community we would be so grateful. "
Humans MCR are partnered with Aldi, Lidl, Morrisons, and Fareshare, receiving donations of perfectly good food that would otherwise go to waste. With the food they save from these combined, they estimate they are able to feed at least 250 families a week.
People can be referred to the charity by any local community professional - such as a GP, local MP, or school pastoral care worker - and are able to access emergency food packages, delivered straight to their door in unmarked vans. Humans MCR offer choice over the food provided, with a range of dietary and cultural needs catered for. They also offer packages for people who only have access to a kettle.
This Christmas, they're expecting to deliver festive 'Xmas hampers' to 300 families in our region. Delievered on December 23, these give clients everything they need to make a full Christmas dinner - plus presents for children, and treats for adults. Their vital work means hundreds in our region will be able to enjoy a real Christmas dinner, instead of suffering in silence.
We know times are hard, but if you are able to give anything at all, Humans MCR need your help. £10 will give a single person a food package for 3 days, £20 will feed a family of four for 3 days, and £40 will provide a family with an Xmas hamper.
Let's work together to help make sure families in Greater Manchester aren't going hungry this Christmas. You can donate to the campaign here.
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