Hundreds to get Christmas dinner from town foodbanks

HUNDREDS of hungry families and individuals will be forced to rely on foodbanks for their Christmas dinner this year.

As the big day approaches volunteers across Greater Manchester are hurriedly gathering and organising supplies to hand out to hungry families.

Last December food banks across the region distributed 4,485 three-day emergency food parcels, with 1,906 going to children. Hundreds of people in desperate need of help will flood into the various village halls and community centres in the coming days.

The supplies they receive will see them through Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

So what do food banks actually need you to donate? The general advice is to check with your local foodbank to find out what they are currently in need of. But anti-hunger campaign group The Trussell Trust has also compiled a list. Alongside the standard food parcel, food banks try to provide essential non-food items to those in crisis. They include: ●●Toiletries: deodorant, toilet paper, shower gel, shaving gel, shampoo, soap, toothbrushes, tooth paste, hand wipes

●●Household items: laundry liquid detergent, laundry powder, washing up liquid

●●Feminine products: sanitary towels and tampons

●●Baby supplies: nappies, baby wipes and baby food – but not formula milk due to UNICEF regulations. ●●Cereals ●●Soup ●●Pasta, rice, pasta sauce ●●Beans, tinned meat and tinned vegetables. ●●Tinned fruit ●●Biscuits To make a donation to The Trussell Trust or find out how to help a foodbank visit trusselltrust.org.