FANS URGED TO MAKE FOODBANK DONATIONSEverton is urging supporters attending the Merseyside derby to make a food donation to Fans Supporting Foodbanks.
The distinctive purple Fans Supporting Foodbanks collection van will be parked up on the corner of Winslow Street and Goodison Road where volunteers will be ready to accept donations in a bid to combat food poverty in the Liverpool area.
Fans are encouraged to donate non-perishable or a variety of dry products, such as rice or pasta; tinned foods, or non-perishable packets such as breakfast cereals, biscuits, long life milk, coffee, fruit juice and sugar. While toiletries and children’s nappies are also very welcome.
Regarded as a vital resource, it has been more than six years since Dave Kelly, Ian Byrne MP and Robbie Daniels put club rivalries aside to set up the charity and collect food.
Since then, Fans Supporting Foodbanks has received the backing of both Everton and Liverpool football clubs, people in the city region and groups of fans from across the country who use the popular #RightToFood and #HungerDoesntWearClubColours hashtags to help spread the word and show their support.
Dave Kelly, joint founder of Fans Supporting Foodbanks, said: “The COVID-19 pandemic has shown the unexpected can hit suddenly. Foodbanks across the country have given out record numbers of food parcels this year, and no one should face food poverty in the age we live in.
“With the effects of the pandemic still being felt and Christmas approaching, matchday donations provide vital support to our local area. They are and will continue to be a real lifeline for those needing a helping hand. The support we have had from fans of all the Merseyside clubs has been incredible over the past six years and we hope everyone continues to support this important cause by making donations on this evening.”
Everton was the first football club in the country to mobilise a targeted campaign to support the most vulnerable, socially isolated, and at-risk members of its community during this pandemic. The ‘Blue Family’ campaign – which launched in March 2020 - is still being delivered collaboratively by the Club and its official charity with more than 35,000 vulnerable people and families supported so far.
Earlier this year both Everton and Liverpool supported the launch of the #FootbAllTogetherNow campaign which marked a proud moment for the city of Liverpool, becoming the first city in the country to officially back a call for the right to food to be enshrined in law.
The campaign aimed to ensure the #RighttoFood will be part of the Government’s National Food Strategy which is due to be the first independent review of England’s entire food system in 75 years and should identify the appropriate food system required to build for the future and eradicate hunger.
Everton’s Neighbourhood team has worked closely with North Liverpool Foodbank and Dave, Ian, and Robbie from Fans Supporting Foodbanks throughout the Blue Family campaign.
Young Evertonian, Ellie, said: “My mum puts a bag of tins and shampoo by the front door before the game and ties my Everton scarf around the handles, so we don’t forget it when we go to the match. It’s part of going to Goodison for me.
“It feels really good to do something to help local people and seeing toffees and fans from all over working together like that makes me really proud. Even if everyone took just one tin to donate on a match day, it would make a massive difference”.
For fans not attending the derby but who want to contribute, charitable donations can be made by clicking
here.
Food donations can also be made Monday to Friday between 9am-4pm directly to North Liverpool Foodbank at St Andrews Community Network, 16-18 Larkhill Lane, Clubmoor, Liverpool, L13 9BR.
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