The West Lancashire Freemasons’ Charity, made available £30,000 to all groups in West Lancashire so they could support the local Food Bank Appeal. Each group received £1,600 which was an increase on last year of £100.
The groups rely on lodges, chapters and non-Masons to donate food and monetary donations bring given to the Province’s Food Bank initiative. Once again, the food bank collection has been an amazing success managing an increase on last year’s total value of both goods and monetary donations. This totalled £2,000 in 2021 and in 2022 reached £3,000 in monetary donations, with approximately another £250 in food donated to Elm Bank Masonic Hall. This totals £3,250 raised between Elm Bank and Swinton Masonic Hall.
The driving force behind this imitative are Paul Webster and Colin Latimer, both being members of Egerton Worsley Lodge No 1213, supported by a wealth of volunteers who gave their free time to ensure this was a success with the emphasis to provide those in need with food.
Paul and Colin have kept in close contact with the Salford Food Bank throughout the appeal, to ensure that their specific shortages of food and products were purchased. These items were purchased from; Quality Save, Aldi, Lidl, Iceland and Home Bargains who also provided a significant discount to help the cause.
The food and products donated go to Salford Food Bank distribution warehouse. All items are parcelled up and made ready for distribution to their customers. The parcels are then transported to one of eight Food Banks around Manchester.
Salford Food Bank, being a registered charity, have to show how much food and products are donated. The total weight of all food and products donated by the Eccles Group this year equated to 1,816 kg, an increase on last year of 730 kg. The Food Bank initiative provides an emergency parcel of three days food and in an average week feeds 250-300 people which is increasing all the time.
