Howdens depots from the North West region have donated to food distribution charity, FareShare Greater Manchester.

The trade supplier has donated two kitchens to its Regional Centre at FareShare Greater Manchester, supporting staff and volunteers and helping provide healthy food skills through cookery demonstrations.

In addition, 20 Howdens employees from the North West region took on the challenge of running the Manchester 10k.

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Between them, they raised £3,224, with Howdens matching it to donate £6,448 to Fareshare, which will be put towards its new building – including an industrial fridge.

Reddish depot assistant manager Charlotte Read said: “We became aware of FareShare following Marcus Rashford MBE’s campaign to feed children during lockdowns and school holidays.

“What they do is truly astonishing and provides a much-needed lifeline for local families and organisations.

“Getting involved and donating our product was the least we could do to help this charity and we are excited about how many people it will help.”

Cheadle depot manager Jo Cribbin added: “I visited FareShare Greater Manchester for the first time and their vision and what they do was remarkable.

“ It really is like a military operation as not only have they got to sort through food, but they are also responsible for its delivery or collection.

“We were over the moon to have 20 of us run the Manchester 10k, the atmosphere on the day was incredible.

“Raising over £3,000, which was then matched by Howdens, was remarkable and I know it will be put to such good use by FareShare Greater Manchester.”

FareShare is the UK’s biggest food charity and takes surplus good-to-eat food from the food industry, sorts it in one of its 30 regional warehouses, and passes it onto a network of more than 10,500 charities.

These include food banks, hostels, refuges, pantries, community centres, older people’s lunch clubs and breakfast and after school clubs for children.

Head of development at FareShare Greater Manchester, part of Emerge 3Rs, Miranda Kaunang said: “We’re extremely grateful for the generous donations from Howdens.

“The funds they’ve raised will help FareShare Greater Manchester deliver valuable meals to people who are in need, at a very challenging time”.