Newport Football Club has made its 1st deliveries of match day foodbank collections to local food pantries.
The Wessex League club is asking fans to bring along donations of food and essentials to the home games it plays at Beatrice Avenue in East Cowes.
Steve Rackett, Chairman of Newport FC Supporters Trust, has said:
“As a community owned football club we felt it was important to help out Islanders in need in these difficult times and so at the start of the season we began the food bank collections. We have been overwhelmed with the generous response of our supporters, who have clearly backed this initiative enthusiastically”.
The club have already made deliveries to Pyle Street Pantry in Newport and last week it was the turn of Pan Together to receive donations from the club’s supporters.
Rachel Thomson, Pan Together’s Community Centre Manager, has said:
“We are absolutely delighted to receive such generous support for our community larder from our local football club, Newport (IW) FC, and their fans. Donations such as these are really welcome and make a vital and direct difference to the charity’s work in our local area when the cost of living crisis is biting so very hard for so many people.
“The Pan Community Larder is open from 12 noon to 2 pm each Tuesday and Friday at Downside Community Centre for residents of Pan, Pan Meadows, Barton and Fairlee. Membership is free and members pay £5 per weekly visit for two carrier bags of fresh, frozen, refrigerated, tinned and dried food and other household essentials which they chose for themselves. No one needs a referral. For further details phone 01983 248170”.
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The club continues its community approach this weekend and is participating in Isle of Wight Day by offering half-price entry for NHS workers its home match on Saturday (16th September, 15:00).
Superb, great that Newport FC are being so positive in difficult circumstances.
I really struggle with foodbanks, most of the people that seem to take food do so with brand new phones, clothes, loads of makeup, nails done, new shoes etc… I think people need to learn to manage their money rather than taking handouts.
So, you’ve been to an Isle of Wight foodbank to see this have you?
Food banks should not be handing out processed food. Instead, food banks should only supply basic foods such as fruit, veg, flour, rice, sugar, oil, lard, salt, seasonings, cheese, milk, chicken, mince, and that is it. Teach people how to make cheap, healthy meals and they won’t need to use food banks in future. Wean them off the pizzas, chips, and takeaways. Make pies, soups, stews, etc. and eat properly like some of us still do and as we all did 30 years ago. Saves a fortune and it is far better for you.