Glitzy charity lunch with 'tiny auction' raises over £6,000 for Manchester foodbank

A ‘tiny’ auction of three items managed to raise over £6,000 for a Manchester foodbank at a charity do last week.

The fifteenth annual lunch hosted by Julie Perry and her luxury events company was attended by a host of local celebrities, influencers and footballer’s wives. Colleen Rooney, whose 2008 marriage to Wayne Julie Perry organised, normally attends – but couldn’t this year as she was deep in the Australian jungle competing in ITV’s I’m A Celebrity.

“It was a really lovely day,” Julie told the Manchester Evening News. “We don’t make any money on it, it’s a loss leader - but it’s just a nice event, a showcase for what we do, and a bit of a give-back for all of our clients and friends.”

READ MORE:Work begins for Manchester foodbank preparing to feed 1,000 this Christmas

“Guests say it’s the best way of starting Christmas. It was only last week but I’ve already had people on the phone trying to secure a table for next year. And there was a waiting list of 160 that we couldn’t find room for.”

Held this year at the Lowry Hotel in Salford, Julie said she changes the location every year to support local venues. “I try and give back all the way around, so our Manchester venues are getting something back.”

“It’s our chance to give back in a very small way, and everyone just has a fab time.”

As well as a round of toasts and a meal, there was an auction of three items which had been donated by prominent Manchester businesses. Julie called it ‘very small’ – but it still managed to raise over £6,000.

Guests made bids on a necklace donated by Boodles. Prices for their necklaces start at £950 and go up to £90k.

Also on offer was a pair of tickets to Strictly Come Dancing Live in February next year, donated by AO, which Julie paired with a night at the five-star Stock Exchange hotel.

And last in the line-up was a Harvey Nichols personal shopping experience and voucher, which the retailer also donated.

Every year the proceeds go to a local charity – and this year, Blackley-based foodbank Humans MCR was chosen. The M.E.N is supporting Humans for the third time in a row this year with their Christmas appeal, which will see them deliver Christmas food and treats to over 1,000 people across our region.

Our fundraiser has already smashed its target thanks to the generosity of our readers, and Julie’s donation which took the appeal over the line. Local businessman Michael Josephson has also pledged to match all donations raised.

“We’ve done it for Perry’s Pantry, women’s domestic abuse shelters, homeless people, local hospices that are struggling,” Julie said.

“I knew Michael was involved with Humans so I had a look at it, and it’s just something I like giving to. It leans towards me and it’s local to where I used to live. So we just decided that was the right one – and everybody’s struggling, aren’t they?”

“When Michael’s raising hundreds of thousands for charity, I thought 6,000 wasn’t a lot and when I rang Humans’ founder Lewey to tell him, I said, “It’s not a lot of money by the way.”

“He went, “Oh my god, yes it is!” He was really lovely.”

Humans MCR

The Manchester Evening News Christmas Appeal is once again supporting Humans MCR, a charity doing incredible work to tackle hunger in Greater Manchester.

This organisation is small but mighty - they work to tackle hunger directly. The charity is run by someone who has relied on foodbanks himself.

We love this charity because they treat everyone with the dignity and respect we all deserve. Each week they provide a lifeline for 400 families and individuals across Manchester, Salford, Rochdale, Trafford, Stockport and Bury.

All their food is delivered in unmarked vans so no one knows the people they help are getting support from a foodbank. And they give people in need a choice over what they eat, accommodating a range of diets including vegan, vegetarian, halal and gluten-free.

The charity was set up by Lewey Hellewell whose own experience of using traditional food banks after being made redundant left him feeling that the process lacked dignity and compassion.

People can be referred to the charity by any local community professional - including GPs, local MPs, health visitors, care and social workers - to get emergency food packages, delivered straight to their door in unmarked vans.

This Christmas, they're expecting to deliver festive hampers to over 1,000 people in our region. The hampers have everything to make a full Christmas dinner - plus presents for children, and treats for adults.

• £12.50 will give a single person a food package for three days
• £36 will feed a family of four for three days
• £61 will provide a family with a Christmas hamper.

Donate here.