UoM students supply 280 meals to those in need in South Manchester

University of Manchester students have been running a series of food drives in south Manchester, supplying meals for over 32,000 people.

These drives have been organised primarily by Lucas Nieboer and Saorsie Akhtar-Farren, who realised that as a result of COVID-19, food banks were struggling due to a large decrease in the number of donations being received.

Lucas told The Manchester Tab: “We realised there was so much non-perishable food stuffs in houses in the student areas that wasn’t going to be used for the duration of the pandemic while there were people going hungry in their homes.

“So since I had a car we decided to drive around and pick up as much as we could from different houses.”

In order to raise awareness of their food drives in the early stages, Lucas posted on FSG: “Due to everyone going bat shit and bulk buying pasta, rice, and other essential food bank items at the start of quarantine, food banks in Manchester are in serious need of donations.

“Currently one in five children in Mcr is without enough food. Among disabled children it’s nearly half; 50 per cent.”

Lucas told The Manchester Tab: “When we got to the food bank for the first time it also became pretty clear that we could make a very real difference by collecting items they were short on for them.

“They only have a certain amount of vans to collect food and it’s time consuming and expensive going door to door collecting items.

“They also don’t tend to get as varied a selection as we bring. Most of the time they get food donated en mass from supermarkets or wholesale so it’ll be big plateaus of jam, coffee, tins of beans, that kinda thing.”

He went on to say that despite this, students still have a crucial role to play as the food banks still need: “Pasta, rice, tinned meats, long life milk, cereal, readymade microwavable stuff/instant foods as well as toiletries like shampoo, soap, deodorant, and tampons/pads.

Most Read

I went on a night out with Bonnie Blue – it was uncomfortable and she’s dead behind the eyes

Monster’s lead star explains why Aileen Wuornos was clumsily shoved into Lizzie Borden show

Bonnie Blue’s video birthday messages to 16-year-olds are the final nail in the coffin

“The COVID-19 crisis, like with any crisis, always ends up hitting the most disadvantaged and oppressed in society the hardest.

“These people, the refugees, people in debt, those with health conditions, those caring for the vulnerable, those sacked from work or unable to work, who exist in our community, whose locals are the same pubs and takeaways and shops as ours, are in need of help.

“As the student body we need to recognise our place within this community and give back whatever we can.

“It really is the community for the community right now.”

On top of this, Lucas told The Manchester Tab: “If you want to get involved in stuff like this but don’t have any food to donate or want to make more or a direct effect then join the Didsbury, Withington, Burnage COVID-19 mutual aid groups.

“So far we’ve managed to supply 280 meals to folks in south Manchester alone! So long story short community activism/work actually works, makes a real difference to people’s lives, and is currently working and needs your help to continue doing so.

“So donate to our food drive, organise your own, get involved in a mutual aid group – every action, no matter how small, is worthwhile!”

https://www.instagram.com/p/CAcW–nhzkJ/

Lucas and Saorsie have been donating all that they have collected to Manchester Central Foodbank (@mcrfoodbank), who said: “Thank you so much for your generosity! We couldn’t run our service without donations such as these.”

If you are interested in helping Lucas and Saorsie out, you can contact them at either @anarchist_disco_mcr or @artinmancunia.

Related articles recommended by this writer: