FC United's Easter Eggstravaganza

FC United’s Food Hub recently put out an appeal for Easter Eggs to distribute to recipients across Manchester, and once again you didn’t let us down! We were happy to partner with a number of individuals and organisations in all areas of the appeal, from donations, deliveries and our recipients.

In total, we collected 1412 Easter Eggs (our most ever!), as well as a late donation of 100 eggs (which were distributed on Bank Holiday Monday) from a wide range of donors, from individuals to bigger companies. nmcm’s Warrington office do an annual collection and this year donated them to our appeal, Leanne Fitzsimons from the organisation who dropped off the eggs to Broadhurst Park said:  

“Every year nmcn’s Birchwood office collect Easter eggs which are purchased by all and we donate to a local charity, this year we collected 84 which I think is the most ever! We do some charity work each month for Corporate Social Responsibility, everything from painting and decorating to this kind of work. I did an online search this year to find somewhere to take our Easter Eggs to, I found the Food Hub and thought it was a worthy cause to partner with!”

We also received eggs from the Far East Consortium who we are happy to have partnered with on many projects in the past, the Co-op Pioneers and groups from the local area. We received many donations from our own fanbase, with fans from as far as the USA, Germany, France and Turkey sending items and money. We are also grateful for the generous donation from our London Branch. We would like to thank everyone who went out of their way to respond to our Easter Egg appeal, we are overwhelmed by your gratitude.

The eggs were stored at Broadhurst Park and distributed the day before Good Friday. As well as sending them to our regular service users using our own delivery drivers, we also had help from Sewa Day and Cresta Cars to deliver the eggs across Manchester.

Sewa Day are an organisation who practice the concept of sewa – an act of kindness without expectation of a reward. Representatives from Sewa Day volunteered to help distribute the eggs to recipients across Manchester. Their North West team drove all across Manchester, to recipients such as: Pictor Academy and St John Vianney School for SEN (special educational needs) children, Frances House, St Ann’s Hospice and Wythenshawe Hospital’s Children’s Ward and Intensive Care Unit. Hardik, from Sewa Day, said:
“Huge thanks to FC United and Vinny Thompson for donating 400 Easter Eggs that helped to spread some joy to children across the Manchester region, especially those with SEN”.

We once again had help from Cresta Cars, who we are incredibly grateful to partner with. Cresta Cars not only helped with our Easter Egg and Christmas Comforts distribution, they also provide the Food Hub with the offer of transport for our regular deliveries if we are short of drivers. Cresta Cars delivered to North Manchester Children’s Ward and ICU, South Failsworth Primary School, our neighbours St Mary’s Primary School, Each Step Dementia Care (for staff and service users) and three Vestacare Care Homes for people with learning disabilities. Derek Brocklehurst from Cresta Cars said:

“It was great seeing the smiley faces from the staff at North Manchester General Hospital and the local care homes delivering for this year’s Easter Egg appeal. Big thank you to our partners at FC United on this great project and a special thank you goes to Vinny who tirelessly gives up his time to help the local community”.

One of our recipients this year was Each Step Dementia Care Blackley, a care home offering specialist residential and nursing care for those with dementia. They were grateful for the donation, Francesca at the organisation said:

“Massive thanks to FC United and Cresta Cars, who delivered 140 Easter Eggs to Each Step Blackley today for the people who we support, and all of our staff. We look forward to continuing our partnership with FC United’s Community Team in future”

Vinny Thompson from our Food Hub summarised this year’s Easter Egg Appeal:

“We are completely overwhelmed by everyone’s generosity this year. We collected more Easter Eggs than we ever thought possible and they have all gone to worthy causes across our city. The response from some wonderful organisations and incredible generosity of our own fanbase is heart-warming to see. There are some beautiful people who have helped to distribute the eggs and we are excited to continue our partnership with these organisations in future.”

Once again, thank you to everyone who supported this year’s Easter Egg appeal from all at FC United.