Kind-hearted scousers are being asked for their help to feed vulnerable families this Christmas.
The Mayor’s Hope Fund has launched an appeal for donations of tins, packets and UHT milk and juice to stock the shelves of foodbanks in the city.
Liverpool City Council has set up food collection points in Lifestyles centres, libraries, and One Stop Shops, and council staff are taking part in the appeal in offices across Liverpool.
List of all public buildings accepting donations are:
- Lifestyles Centres (Alsop, Austin Rawlinson, Cardinal Heenan, Ellergreen, Everton Park, Garston, Millennium House, Park Road, Peter Lloyd, Wavertree)
- One Stop Shops (Broadway, City Centre, Dingle, Garston, Kirkdale, Old Swan, Speke, Wavertree)
- Libraries (Allerton, Childwall, Central, Croxteth, Garston, Kensington, Lee Valley, Norris Green, Old Swan, Sefton Park, Spellow, West Derby)
- Newsham, Norris Green and Park Road Adult Learning Centres
- Liverpool Town Hall (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm)
- Tuebrook Children’s Centre
- West Derby Children’s Centre
The food collected will help make up parcels for those in need over the holiday season.
The city’s foodbanks have helped to feed over 15,000 people since April this year, almost half of whom have been children. Low income is the biggest cause of individuals and families falling into food poverty.
The Christmas period brings with it extra challenges for parents as children are unable to access free school meals for two weeks.
Two previous Christmas foodbank appeals led by the council have collected over seven tonnes of food. It is hoped that this year’s appeal will be the biggest yet, with donation boxes in more than 40 locations – from staff offices to public buildings including Central Library, the city centre’s One Stop Shop, Park Road Adult Learning Centre and Tuebrook and West Derby Children’s Centres. The appeal will run until Friday 29 November.
Mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson, said: “This city is renowned for its generosity of spirit and looking after our own and I know that people will get behind this foodbank appeal and donate what they can.
“There is no donation too big or too small, all contributions will go directly towards feeding some of our most vulnerable residents at a point of crisis. I’m proud of the council’s hardworking staff who are helping to drive this appeal because they care so much about the communities they serve.”
Nicola Hawkes, South Liverpool foodbank’s coordinator, said: “The Mayor’s Hope Fund provides invaluable help to disadvantaged communities and, at Christmas, the need is sadly greater than ever. Without the support of Liverpool residents who make donations there would be many households going hungry this December.”
Simon Huthwaite, Operations Manager at St Andrew’s Community Network, said: “Foodbanks in the north of the city are noticing a steady increase in the number of children we are providing meals for, with over 5,000 children being fed by us since April (2019). We know that Christmas is a real pinch-point for parents and if we can help by taking away the pressure of finding food then we will. “We are particularly grateful for the Mayor’s continued support and thank all the staff at Liverpool City Council for help coordinating this appeal on our behalf.”
