Liverpool Football Club launched its Christmas Foodbank Appeal earlier this week ahead of yesterday’s Merseyside Derby at Anfield. Trent Alexander-Arnold took time out before training on Monday to drop by North Liverpool Foodbank to donate food, meet with staff and volunteers and find out more about the centre’s important work.
The Reds right back said: “It was a pleasure to be able to visit the foodbank and meet with the hard-working staff and volunteers. Their dedication makes such a difference to people who need their help. I’m really proud that my Club is supporting such an important cause.”
Trent’s support was matched by a visit from Everton FC players Moise Kean and Alex Iwobi who also donated food and helped to weigh and sort donations. These visits along with other Club activity is helping to raise awareness of food poverty and encourage food donations leading up to and throughout the Christmas period, which can be a difficult time for many people.
LFC staff have worked together to create the Club’s first ever Christmas Giving Tree, made out of food donations, which proudly features on the Club’s official Christmas card that is being distributed around the world to thousands of contacts of the club.
The LFC Christmas Giving Tree, which is on display in the Main Stand at Anfield, is accompanied by a text to donate number that provides fans with another way to give. Simply text FOODBANKFC to 70460 – donations will cost £5, plus your standard network message rate. Alternatively, you can donate any whole amount up to £20 by texting FOODBANKFC, plus the value. For example, FOODBANKFC10 to 70460 means you’ll be donating £10. If you live outside the UK, you can donate via Paypal – www.paypal.me/standrewsnetwork or go to the St Andrew’s Community Network website at www.standrewslive.org.uk/donate.
Simon Huthwaite, Operations Manager at North Liverpool Foodbank, said: “The continued support from both Clubs is massively important and makes a huge difference to the work we do and the vulnerable people we support. Each year, the food collected at Anfield and Goodison accounts for 25% of the total food that we collect. The timing of this appeal is also really important as the Christmas period is our busiest time of year.”
As part of LFC’s dedication to tackle food poverty, the club’s Red Neighbours community programme backs the Fans Supporting Foodbanks initiative and hosts foodbank collections at every home game.
Everton Football Club also host collections at all home games and fans can make their donations at the following collection points – foodbank van adjacent to the FanZone and St Luke’s Church on Goodison Road, the People’s Hub and Everton Free School on Spellow Lane and the Blue Base on Salop Street.
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