Last Updated on 31 October 2023 by Ann-Marie Nye
Newport Pagnell United Reformed Church alongside its community project, The Mead Centre, have become official Guinness World Record breakers.
On 16 October, the church and community project alongside 250 organisations, collectively known as MK Can, joined Milton Keynes (MK) Food Bank’s effort in gathering as many food cans to create the longest long line that they could.
Aiming for 7km, the collective lined up 102,447 cans of food, totalling 10km, all around Campbell Park in Milton Keynes which made the collective title holders for the Guinness World Records for “The Longest Line of Food Cans” in the world.
The feat more than doubled the previous record set in Canada nine years ago.
MK Food Bank said: “Thank you to every single supporter, student, organisation, team, business, and individuals who gave their cans to support this fantastic effort and braved the cold to complete this epic line of food cans at Campbell Park!”
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Eva Bangle, an Elder of Newport Pagnell, added: “It was a great day, and a privilege to be part of such an amazing event.”
The cans collected provide more than half of the canned food MK Food Bank needs for an entire year. The achievement means the charity can continue to support thousands of families this winter.
During the first half of 2023, demand for the charity increased by almost 40% on the same period as last year and the number of households receiving support doubled. Every single day, the Food Bank needs a minimum of 4,500 food items, £530 and 55 volunteer hours just to keep open.
On the day, an adjudicator from Guinness World Records officially recognised the new title, and all the cans will go to MK Food Bank.