Fans Supporting Foodbanks: Support from home
This weekend's Merseyside derby will be the first game for five years without the Fans Supporting Foodbanks collection van, due to matches being played behind closed doors.
The van has been a regular fixture at both Liverpool and Everton’s home games since October 2015. With fans supporting games from home for the remainder of this season, there are still ways to support the campaign to help tackle food poverty across the city.
In the absence of the usual matchday collections facilitated by the club’s Red Neighbours team, fans can make charitable donations to the Emergency Foodbank Appeal in support of the Trussell Trust foodbank network, which provides emergency assistance to families and vulnerable people living in food poverty.
Ian Byrne, Fans Supporting Foodbanks, said: “We have held 223 consecutive collections at Anfield and Goodison over the past five years, and although our proud record comes to an end on Sunday, there are still ways in which fans can help in place of their usual matchday donations.
“Derby day is always special in our city, and we hope both Reds and Blues will lend their support from home – not only for the teams on the pitch but for those throughout the city who need our help.”
Dave Kelly, Fans Supporting Foodbanks, added: “The curtailment of the Premier League back in March left us with a massive void, given that approximately 25 per cent of food donations for North Liverpool Foodbank are collected on matchdays at Anfield and Goodison Park.
“The support from both clubs has been an incredible lifeline over the past few months, from emergency foodbank appeals to volunteering at the foodbank hub, but we continue to urge fans who have supported us so diligently over the past five years to consider making a financial donation direct to the North Liverpool Foodbank in lieu of their donations at matches.
“This will enable us to ensure we can continue to meet demand for emergency food as best we can in the coming months.”
You can donate to Liverpool FC’s Emergency Foodbank Appeal here, or alternatively, text donations can also be made directly to the North Liverpool Foodbank by simply texting FOODBANKFC to 70460.
Donations will cost £5, plus your standard network message rate. You can also donate any whole amount up to £20 by texting FOODBANKFC, plus the value. For example, FOODBANKFC10 means you’ll be donating £10, FOODBANKFC15 will be £15, and so on.
To make an online donation directly to the North Liverpool Foodbank, click here.