The Wigan Observer is asking readers to help us support the borough's food banks and their most vulnerable users during the lockdown.

The economic impact of Covid-19 pandemic has seen many people fall below the poverty line, resulting in a rising demand for the services of Wigan's food banks.

In addition to this, the lockdown measures mean that many people who regularly donate food can no longer do so, either because of their own financial worries, their own self-isolation or simply because the items are not available for them to purchase and donate.

Volunteers across the borough have been working tirelessly to put together care packages, to make sure Wigan's most needy and vulnerable residents have access to enough food and essential items during the lockdown.

But they need your help. We are asking our readers to donate whatever they can to support our volunteer groups and food banks. This money will then be used to bulk buy supplies from wholesalers, to continue providing care packages of food, medicine and essentials to people across the borough.

Every penny raised will go to community groups and organisations that are providing supplies for food parcels. Thank you in advance for your generosity.

The funds raised will go towards the following groups:

- One House

- Shevington Neighbourhood Watch

- Fur Clemt

- Homeless Support Project

- Pensioners Link

- The Bridge

- Christ Church Pennington

- Higher Folds community centre

- Abram Ward Cooperative

- Helping Hindley

- St Barnabas

- Armed Forces Hub Weekend Provisions

- Total

- Food Bank

- Atherton & Leigh Food Bank

- ACT

- Compassion in Action

- The Brick

- Age UK

- Sunshine House

- The Launch Project

- Daffodils Dreams

- The Salvation Army

- Shevington Recreation Ground Trustees

- The Armed Forces Hub

- Embrace Wigan and Leigh

- Greenslate Farm

- Tom’s Pantry

PLEASE NOTE: The money raised will be passed to Wigan Council, who will distribute every penny to the groups listed above. We wish to make it clear that although Wigan Council will be handling the funds, the money is not being raised for them, nor on behalf of them.