The second annual Santa’s Red Helpers campaign, saw Manchester United FC and the Foundation pledge £100,000 to FareShare GM, the local branch of the UK’s biggest food charity that diverts food donations to front line charities and schools.

The funds will enable FareShare GM to provide 400,000 meals over the continuing winter period, and has already contributed to supporting 15,500 families via 265 organisations over the past four weeks.

Miranda Kaunang, Head of Development at FareShare Greater Manchester, said: “The funding from the Foundation and Club was immediately helpful in securing our Christmas provision. It also enables us to plan for the next months, which will be just as tough for many families, in particular around the half-term school meals gap in February. We are extremely grateful to all who donated to the Santa’s Red Helpers appeal – your support really does make a difference to those facing challenging times.”

Additional funds were raised by Manchester United supporters, staff and local fan groups: Manchester United Supporters’ Trust (MUST), The Red Army (TRA) and Manchester United Women Supporters’ Club (MUWSC).  The club’s network of global supporters’ clubs (MUSCs) also became Red Helpers in their own communities by organising events and donating funds and items to charities close to their hearts. 

These included the New South Wales MUSC, who organised a charity football match and raised $1,110 for a local foodbank to provide an additional 2,220 meals over Christmas; Cape Town MUSC organised a shoe box appeal to support their longstanding charity Elonwabeni Children’s Home; and Downpatrick MUSC held a food collection between their members and donated to Fountain Foodbank.

The Ghana supporters’ club supported the God’s Love Residential Home orphanage, and Mauritius MUSC made a donation the Immaculee Marie orphanage, comprising of gifts and school materials. They also donated to SOS Village for Children, including gifts for the children and foster mothers.
 
Closer to home in Greater Manchester, United fan groups MUST, TRA and MUWSC organised collections for local foodbanks, and raised money for FareShare GM through raffles of Manchester United signed items.

Manchester United Foundation continues to support our local communities through our work with partner schools and outreach programmes, and we look forward to supporting FareShare GM further in 2022 in a bid to end food poverty.