Salford Foodbank has kicked off its annual Christmas Goody Bag project, aiming to bring warmth, dignity, and festive cheer to around 800 families struggling to make ends meet this winter.
The charity, which supports residents across Salford during times of crisis, provides essential food parcels to people referred by social services, the NHS, schools, and local faith organisations.
But as Christmas draws closer, staff and volunteers are determined to deliver something extra: a moment of joy during what can be the hardest season of the year for low-income households.
Throughout the Christmas period, along with the normal food parcels provided every week, Salford Foodbank also wants to provide some cheer in the form of a Christmas goody bag.
Foodbank manager Emma Rapley said: “We love doing something special around Christmas time, as winter is often the most difficult season for people on a low income, as finances are stretched to cover additional costs, with the pressure of gift-giving added into the mix. We’ll be packing 800 Christmas goody bags to ensure everyone who visits us in December can receive one.’’
Alongside the charity’s weekly food parcels, the festive goody bags will include treats such as mince pies, chocolate tubs, sweets, cakes, crackers, Twiglets and other seasonal snacks – a few small comforts that many families simply cannot afford this year.
But with demand continuing to rise, Salford Foodbank is urging the community to pull together.
Emmas said: “We distribute on average 240 food parcels a month to people in need. In October alone, we received only around 58% of the food we required through donations. The rest had to be bought in bulk, costing the charity £9,278 just for that month. We’d love to encourage the community to donate year-round.”
Salford Foodbank is part of Trussell, which runs a network of foodbanks all over the UK. In 2023/24, 7.5 million people, or 11% of the UK population, were living in households experiencing food poverty, including 18% of children, according to the Department for Work and Pensions. For the same year, Trussell supplied 2.89 million emergency food parcels.
Salford Foodanbk is calling on residents, businesses, and community groups to help make this Christmas a little brighter for local families. Donation points can be found across the city, including Salford, Eccles, Swinton, Broughton and Walkden.
Those wishing to donate food or volunteer can find more information at the charity’s website.
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