LUSN Boost Leeds Food Bank Charity
A call from a Twitter post from the Leeds North & West Foodbank drew the eye of a member of the Thames Valley Whites as a worthwhile cause to support. Tanya Hillier, who works in social care within the Central Oxfordshire region and the Thames Valley committee member, contacted Steve Griffin, Branch Secretary, and suggested that we ask the members travelling to the next home match against Newcastle to contribute food items.
Food banks are a sad fact on our communities and past and present Governments over recent years have continued to allow people fall through the gaps. The result is food banks have sprung up in every corner of the UK as a necessity to help feed those who have fallen on hard times. The most vulnerable in our society have now become reliant on these banks through no fault of their own.
Elland Road has now become a focal point on match days where the charity collects food items given generously by the Leeds United supporters.
Every home fixture, supported by the Leeds United Supporters Trust, a food-bank van sits opposite Billy Bremner's statue where supporters visiting on match-days can donate essential food items to the volunteers who manage food parcels for those in need.
The branch put out the call to its membership that would be travelling on the coach to think of others and bring some items they could donate. There is always that tin of something in a cupboard that would never be consumed or that extra unneeded bag of pasta going to waste.
The response by the membership could easily be described as outstanding. As each member boarded the coach, 65 in total, they deposited their generous gifts into a big polythene bag. As they meandered through all their pick up points from South Oxfordshire to East Leicestershire, the coach reached Elland Road and had amassed 14 'bags for life' of various food items.
All the food items were offloaded from the coach and taken to the drop-off point at Elland Road with the help of Tanya, Rolf, Donna and Steve Griffin.
The collection was posted on social media throughout the day to publicise and make others aware of this essential and most needed charity.
A total of 30 crates was collected by the volunteers on this particular match day.
The committee and especially Tanya, would like to say a big thankyou to the TVW membership and how proud they are for responding and donating to those most in need within our communities.
If you are in financial crisis and live in England or Wales, please call the free national helpline, Help through Hardship, on 0808 2082138 for free (open Monday to Friday, 9 am-5 pm, closed on public holidays) to talk confidentially with a trained Citizens Advice adviser. They can help address your crises and provide support to maximise your income, help you navigate the benefits system, and identify any additional grants you could be entitled to. If needed, they'll issue you with a voucher so you can get an emergency food parcel from your local food bank.
Alternatively, you can call them on 0113 2444 696 (Donations) or 0113 269 2985 (Food Parcel Support), or go on their website Leeds North & West Foodbank | Helping Local People in Crisis to contribute yourself by Donating Money, Donating Food, Volunteering or, if you're a business, partnering with us to make a real difference in the local community.
