The 26-year-old forward for Manchester United, Marcus Rashford, continues to advocate against child hunger, finding motivation in his own childhood.

Rashford and his mother, Melanie, demonstrated their dedication to helping needy families by volunteering at a food bank after the Tory government rejected his idea to provide meals for 1.4 million underprivileged youngsters over the holidays.

Growing up in Wythenshawe on free school lunches, Rashford has frequently talked about the hardships his mother endured while working 14-hour hours to provide for him and his brothers. His unrelenting campaigning is motivated by the eerie memory of hearing her sob in distress.

Rashford visited the Melanie-named new FareShare facility yesterday, which will increase the organization’s ability to distribute food by three times. “When we stumble, there will always be a community to pick us up,” he said, reflecting on the crucial role food banks play while assisting with the movement of grocery cartons. The food bank is that community to many.

Rashford commended the altruism of food bank volunteers, many of whom have endured personal struggles, such as losing their jobs during the outbreak, but still go out of their way to help others. “In the midst of cities, towns, and villages, helping the most vulnerable, are the true heroes of this country,” he said.

When Karina Tiplady, a FareShare volunteer, met Rashford at the Greater Manchester warehouse, she said he was “so humble” and that it was encouraging to see how hard he worked to keep others from experiencing what he and his family had to go through.

Businesses and individuals throughout the UK have stepped up to provide free meals and assistance to those in need as a result of Rashford’s efforts. He remains a ray of hope as he swears to continue advocating for children’s rights, demonstrating that compassion and teamwork can bring about significant change.