A charity in Salford has set up a large Christmas meal and monetary donations for some of the city’s most vulnerable families.
Lighthouse Community Trust (LCT) set up the meal this week (Monday 19 December) with support and donations from Morrison’s (Chorlton and Eccles), Asda, Allied Mills Bakery and the Salford Rugby League team.
The donations are part of the charity’s ‘Bless Manchester’ project, supporting vulnerable families in response to local councillor’s pleas for more support from charities.
This collective effort has meant the charity has continued to grow its support this year and has also helped other charities including Safe Families, Ready Meals Salford, Christians Against Poverty and other smaller, local organisations.
LCT supports approximately 600 people in the community, around a further 200 via its phone line and 50 homeless people through its street work. LCT also runs a Food Club in Winton, supporting around 240 individuals.
The LCT charity was formed during the lockdown in response to the need amongst low-income families living in North Manchester. In its second year of operation, the charity’s efforts coordinated from the main Lighthouse Church campus in Eccles, Salford has continued to provide food and support to those most in need.
From a standing start in 2020, to providing food for 60 local families in just three weeks, the Lighthouse Community Trust (LCT) charity has raised over £26,000 in the last twelve months and has managed to organise new monthly community hubs in two of the neediest areas in the city, Winton and Brookhouse.
Paul Hallam, founder of the Lighthouse Community Trust and senior pastor of the Lighthouse Church, said: “We are deeply grateful to all who continue to support us in our desire to help the neediest of people in our communities.
“However, as the country faces a cost of living crisis, food banks are under additional pressure as it becomes more difficult for people to afford to make donations. Our ongoing appeal for support is where you can, please continue to support the local food banks, however small.
“In addition to our more established support services, LCT has also newly established an Emergency Relief Fund (ERF). This is a special cash fund set aside for individuals who are facing a personal financial need. We have helped approximately 20-25 people with one off payments from the ERF.
“While we face a growing number of those needing our support, we also recognise that we can’t continue to reach out to those who are genuinely needing our help and support without the ongoing financial contributions from local individuals and business.”
For more information on ‘Bless Manchester’, visit their website.
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