Freemasons from Salford have made a series of Christmas grants to the Salford foodbank, bringing their contributions to the foodbank this year alone to around £4600.

Since the start of the pandemic, Salford Freemasons have donated £5900 plus over 1000 items of food to the Salford foodbank, with grants to foodbanks across the country reaching £343,000 in the festive period.

Most recently the Salford foodbank has received £3400 to help with the expected surge in demand over the festive season which included donations weighing over half a ton.

The grant to the Salford foodbank is expected help provide between six and seven hundred parcels, feeding well over 1000 adults and children over the Christmas period.

Foodbanks in England and Wales are predicting an unprecedented demand for their services this Christmas, following the upheavals of the pandemic, continuing supply chain problems and rising fuel bills.

The grant from Salford Freemasons is financed jointly with the Masonic Charitable Foundation, which is funded by Freemasons, their families, and friends, from across England and Wales and the East Lancashire Masonic Charity.

Emma Rapley Warehouse Coordinator from Salford Foodbank, said:

“We’re very grateful to Salford Freemasons for their generous grant, which will be an enormous help as we look to support record numbers of people over the Christmas period.

“The Freemasons gave us very valuable support during lockdown and it’s great that this vital assistance is continuing. Thanks to them we can continue to help people who really need it.”

Ian MacNiel from Salford Freemasons, said:

“I’m very pleased we’ve been able to help the Salford Foodbank with their hugely important work over the festive season and most grateful for the additional support that has been provided.

“We were able to support them during the pandemic and we’re happy to help them again during what will be a very difficult Christmas for the most vulnerable people in our community.”