Be a star player and donate food
BRING A BAG FOR POOR FAMILIES TO GAME, FANS ARE URGED
NEWCASTLE United fans are being urged to bring a bag of food to St James’ Park on Saturday to donate to food banks.
Toon fans have come together this season to join their city’s fight against hunger by organising food collections outside home matches.
Benwell’s West End Foodbank is Britain’s largest and featured in Ken Loach’s I, Daniel Blake, which depicted Newcastle’s struggle against austerity and benefit cuts.
United supporters wanted to use their collective strength to help plug the gap which cuts have made wider in Tyneside, so decided to run collections and fundraisers for the West End Foodbank. The produce gathered is then distributed to several North East food banks.
Tomorrow, the stall will be open between 1pm and 3pm on Strawberry Place opposite the Gallowgate End’s Nine Bar.
The food bank has released a wish list of produce it badly needs. It includes: Tea Coffee Sugar Pasta and cooking sauces Tinned tomatoes Easter treats So far this season, supporters donated 3.2 tonnes of food at the Derby match, 2.3 tonnes before the Bristol City game and 2.7 tonnes ahead of the Fulham fixture, adding up to £15,000 worth of food.
United midfielder Isaac Hayden recently joined food bank manager Michael Nixon to spend a day volunteering at the Benwell centre.
He told the Mirror: “It’s a special thing the fans have done. They organise and give to people not so fortunate.
“It is good to be here because it keeps you humble. You have to keep a connection between fans, players and the city. You can drive here, a mile from St James’ Park, and it is a different world from the life inside that stadium.
“As a player, you can go to Darras Hall and see the big houses. Jesmond, too, and you come out here and it is very different. We are in a very privileged position doing what we love.
“It brings rewards and makes us very lucky. We know there are people less fortunate and we’d like to help.”
The group plans to have collections at as many Saturday home matches as possible. The supporter-led scheme has been replicated in other cities, including Liverpool.