M.E.N. readers desperate to help homeless this Christmas
THE Manchester Evening news has been flooded with messages from readers desperate to help the city’s homeless families this Christmas, after we revealed the scale of the city’s crisis.
At the start of the week we told of the appalling conditions facing many families, including some banned from having visitors or hot food in their hotel rooms.
In total there are set to be 2,000 children living in some kind of emergency accommodation this festive season – either bed and breakfasts or temporary housing – and now M.E.N. readers have rallied to their aid, wanting to know how they can help.
Many have asked how they can donate toys, to make sure children have a little something to brighten their Christmas Day.
Although a lot of charities in the city are already coming to the end of their annual charity toy appeals, Fallowfield and Withington food bank and the Mustard Tree in Ancoats will gladly pass on your donations.
The Fallowfield food bank sees many of the destitute families placed in temporary housing across south Manchester and said many of them face the festive season with just a handful of possessions.
Its manager, Colin, who was one of those to outline in our investigation the appalling misery faced by some families when they are forced to seek emergency homeless support, explained how difficult it is for parents in that position as Christmas approaches.
In many cases every last penny is accounted for, he said, with none to spare for gifts.
“Often they have to use what little money they have to travel to take children to school miles away,” he said of families who will be placed wherever the council can find space.
“Christmas is often the last thing on parents’ minds.”
The charity regularly hands out food parcels – including ‘kettle packs,’ which can be made in hotel rooms just using hot water – to families in temporary accommodation, but Colin said it will gladly also pass on gifts of toys and other treats donated by M.E.N. readers.
The food bank, on Wellington Road, has specific opening hours and gets very busy, so anyone wanting to donate is asked to get in touch first to arrange a drop-off.
They can be reached on 07467 091717 or info@fallowfieldwithington.foodbank.org.uk.
In central Manchester, just north of the city centre, the homeless charity Mustard Tree is also taking donations.
People can drop them off at the organisation’s main hub, at 110 Oldham Road, Ancoats, M4 6AG.
Mustard Tree is open 10am4pm Monday to Saturday, with early closing on Thursdays at 12.30pm.