The May Bank Holiday weekend is nearly upon us. Whilst for many of us it brings a few days of much-needed rest and relaxation, some people will be struggling to put food on the table.
According to a report by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation published in December 2018, 1.6 million people – and 32% of all children – in the area are living in poverty in the north west.
And according to records kept by the Trussell Trust, food bank use in the UK has risen by 3,772% since 2010, with an increase of 19% in the last year alone.
To help those in need, local promoters Hit & Run and Love for the Streets are putting on a huge club night and asking punters to pay with non-perishable food items and toiletries.
A huge number of acclaimed Manchester artists have waived their fees for the Food4Thought event, which will take place this Saturday 4th May at Fallowfield club 256 Wilmslow Road.
Headline sets will come from bass music legends Biome, Spectrasoul and Chimpo with further live sets from well-known Manchester musicians Skittles, Sparkz and Eva Bee.
Also making an appearance is drum and bass producer SL8R, Metrodome, Kime & P1 Caps, Nanny Banton, T-Man, Preacher, Chande, Flash Sampson, Ad Hoc, Me Gusta, Francesca liminal project and Cozen.
All food and toiletries donated on the night will be sent to the Trussell Trust food bank network who distributed almost 1.6 million 3 day emergency food supplies to people in crisis last year
Now in its fourth year, the Food4Thought event has been created to help fill the shelves of Manchester’s food banks and raise awareness of food poverty in the region.
Last year Food4Thought raised a whopping 875kg of food (2,100 meals) for Manchester Central Foodbank and £1,400 for The Trussell Trust through ticket sales on the door – but given that numbers for food bank use are still increasing, promoters hope to raise even more this weekend.
You can pay your way in with four items of non-perishable food or toiletries, or buy a ticket in advance for just £2.50.