Club supports local foodbank initiative.
Leeds United Football Club have joined forces with the Leeds United Supporters’ Trust to support two local foodbanks that cover the whole of Leeds.
Starting on Saturday afternoon (27 October) when the first-team take on Nottingham Forest there will be a new food collection point set-up at Elland Road for fans to donate to ahead of kick-off.
The food drive will be located close to Bremner Square and the official Leeds United Store based at the stadium, giving fans and local people the chance to give any emergency food items they can or pledge cash donations where possible.
Angus Kinnear, CEO at Leeds United Football Club, commented on the initiative and said: "The club is delighted to be involved in supporting these local foodbanks by hosting a food drive at every home game and encouraging our great supporters to donate what they can. We've been working closely with the Supporters' Trust on this initiative and we're really looking forward to seeing it up and running ahead of Saturday's game."
The charities are asking for donations of food that is still in date and still good to eat, which will then provide three days of nutritionally balanced emergency food to support local people that have been referred to them in crisis.
The two local foodbanks are part of a nationwide network of foodbanks supported by The Trussell Trust, which works to combat poverty and hunger across the UK. Last year alone they provided food for 18,563 people, consisting of 11,662 adults and 6,901 children across the city.
Representatives from the Supporters' Trust and Leeds foodbanks will be on-hand to collect the food items from fans ahead of every game going forward at Elland Road this season.
Clair Hufton from Leeds United Supporters’ Trust said: “We’re delighted to be able to work with the two main foodbanks in Leeds to get this initiative off the ground, many football clubs around the country support a similar campaign, so it’s great that we’ve been able to work closely with Leeds United to implement this at our club too. Whilst there shouldn't be any food banks in this day and age the harsh reality is that there are thousands of people, including some of our fans, across our city in food poverty and they heavily rely on these services.”
Karen Burgon, the Project Director for Leeds North and West Foodbanks, added: “We are delighted that Leeds United Supporters’ Trust together with Leeds United Football Club are supporting the Foodbanks in Leeds by hosting these collections providing us this opportunity to collect much needed donations (of food and money).
“We rely upon donations of food and funds from the public in order to offer our services to those in the city struggling to feed themselves and their families. Last year saw a 16% increase in people coming to us for support and whilst people come to us for a variety of reasons 'changes to benefits' was the most often cited reason.
“We look forward to working together as foodbanks with The Supporters’ Trust and Leeds United.”
Supporters are urged to bring any of the following items: Milk (UHT or powdered), Fruit Juice (long life), Soup, Pasta sauces, Tinned sponge pudding, tinned tomatoes or vegetables, cereals, tinned rice pudding, tea & coffee, instant mash, rice & pasta, tinned meat & fish, tinned fruit, jam, biscuits or snack bars.
The foodbanks are looking for any volunteers who are able to help support their matchday collections going forward, please contact info@leedsnorthandwest.foodbank.org.uk or info@leedssouthandeast.foodbank.org.uk if you are interested.