Penny Appeal helps 150 families in Rochdale over December holidays

Volunteers put together 450 sandwich packs for children and 150 non-perishable food parcels

150 families in need throughout Rochdale were given a helping hand over the December holidays, receiving hot meals and food packs donated and distributed by the international NGO Penny Appeal and their partners.

Penny Appeal’s Holiday Hunger initiative worked in tandem with local grassroots organisations, The Future Group and Aspire 2 Inspire, to support families in the borough.

Volunteers put together 450 sandwich packs for children, which included sandwiches, crisps, energy bars and fruit, 300 meat packs, 150 cereal variety packs and 150 non-perishable food parcels, which included items such as long life milk, canned goods, pasta, rice, biscuits, tea bags, sugar, juice, jam and porridge. 450 hot meals of rice and chicken curry were also distributed to hungry low-income families during this time.

One single mother with three children who moved to Rochdale from Palestine described the programme as a 'lifeline project'. She explained that her universal credit had been stopped and she had no means to support her children, so the Holiday Hunger packs she received were truly appreciated.

Another Rochdale family from Sudan, who have recently been attending The Future Group for extra support, expressed that they had not eaten meat dishes in months because of how expensive meat is to buy. The two halal meat packs they received from Penny Appeal and The Future Group was a lovely surprise for the family, met with warm smiles and a chorus of joyful shouts from the children.

“Thank you very much. The children were very happy and pleased. God bless you and give you strength for all your good efforts,” said one mother, as she collected her food packs at the Meadowfields Community Centre.

Charities like Penny Appeal and their partners rely on public donations to help keep programmes like the Holiday Hunger initiative going in order to support the most vulnerable in Britain including families that have no access to public funds.

If you’d like to learn more about Penny Appeal’s ongoing projects helping those in need here in the UK this winter, visit the Penny Appeal web site for more information.

• pennyappeal.org/appeal/winter-emergency/winter-at-home