Manchester Central Foodbank Christmas fundraising appeal

This winter is going to be incredibly tough for many in our Manchester community. Colder weather and children having time off school will leave lots of our friends and neighbours facing higher bills and food costs. For many, they will face the impossible choice between heating and eating. 

2025 has been one of the busiest years on record for Manchester Central Foodbank. We have supported over 14,000 people in our city who are struggling to afford the essentials, providing emergency food parcels for those in times of crisis. Heartbreakingly, thousands of these people are children and young people - nearly 6,000 of the people we’ve worked with in 2025 are under 18. Parents are finding it more and more difficult to make ends meet and provide the essentials for their children. 

Foodbanks like ours have stepped up to provide food parcels to those in need but our circumstances are getting harder and harder. Our costs are rising and donations are falling - most months we purchase more than half of the food we give out. 

We are launching our Christmas fundraising appeal with a renewed hope that you will support your local foodbank this winter, and you can do so in just two minutes. 

We’re asking that you text XMASMCR to 70085 to donate £5 to our foodbank in the run-up to Christmas. That’s less than the price of a glass of mulled wine, and will help buy essential food and hygiene products for people in our community. 

If you feel able to donate more, you can add a number to the end of your message to donate more - ‘XMASMCR10’ to donate £10 or ‘XMASMCR25’ to donate £25. 

Your generosity would help us continue to provide the food parcels which are vital for people in the city this winter and into 2026. 

Please share this message with friends and family, and we hope you choose to support your local foodbank this month. 

Text XMASMCR to 70085 to donate £5 to families in need. 

Thank you for your support during what will be a difficult winter in Manchester.