Season › 2019-20 › News Everton players show support for city foodbank Wednesday, 4 December, 2019 4comments | Jump to most recent Everton stars Alex Iwobi and Moise Kean have learned about the incredible impact of the Fans Supporting Foodbanks initiative — and the generosity of Evertonians — by helping out at a Liverpool centre that supports more than 250 people with emergency food parcels each week. Ahead of Wednesday's Merseyside derby, both Everton and Liverpool are encouraging supporters heading to Anfield to drop off donations of non-perishable goods for local foodbanks ahead of kick-off. The North Liverpool Foodbank in Clubmoor provided 90 tonnes of food to local people last year, with as much as 25 per cent of the total donations made to the centre coming via collections on matchdays at Goodison Park and Anfield. “It saddens me that a lot of people, especially kids, are struggling for food,” said Iwobi. Article continues below video content “People are working hard but they don't make enough to take care of their own families so any little thing where we can help, it's a pleasure. For us to see it with our own eyes is even better and hopefully we can raise awareness and help more people.” Kean said: “We are happy to help the people and we are always open. The community is important to the Club and it is great to see how people look after each other across this city. Evertonians like to help the people and that's good.” The Club's support was matched by a visit in the same week from Liverpool FC player Trent Alexander-Arnold, who also donated food and met with staff and volunteers to find out more about the centre's important work. Fans Supporting Foodbanks was set up by local Everton and Liverpool supporter groups in conjunction with the North Liverpool Foodbank, Anfield Breckside Community Centre, Unite in the Community and the Trussell Trust, to help combat food poverty. It has received the backing of other clubs and fan groups across the country. Kevin Peacock, Chief Executive at St Andrew's Community Network, the organising body for North Liverpool Foodbank, shared the startling figure that last year the 11,000 people were helped by the centre - about 40 per cent of whom were children. Mr Peacock said: “The work of the Fans Supporting Foodbanks is really important to us. It makes up 25 per cent of all the food that's donated to us and we give that food as emergency food parcels to people who need it. “The more the football clubs are involved, the more that the public face of football can see the issue and start calling it out, the better for us really. The generosity of Liverpool people never fails to blow me away. Whether it's at a supermarket or a football match people are basically saying you know, anything I can do, I will do.” Iwobi added: “It shows that football fans don't just come for the football but they're out to help people that are in need as well. The fact that it's 25 per cent is very high. Hopefully, we can increase that and make it better but it's great that Liverpool and Everton supporters are able to help.” Ahead of Wednesday's derby at Anfield, people can drop off their donations three hours before kick-off and up to 15 minutes after kick-off at three locations: The foodbank van located on Anfield Road The official LFC retail store Homebaked bakery on Oakfield Road Priority items include: UHT milk Long-life juice or cordial Coffee Jar pasta/curry sauce Tinned meat Tinned vegetables Instant mash Rice pudding/custard Jam Toiletries Cup-a-soup/noodles Washing tablets Toothpaste Shower gel Shampoo Conditioner To donate at Everton home matches: The Fans Supporting Foodbanks donation van will be on-site at Goodison Park adjacent to the FanZone on Goodison Road in the build-up to every home match. Supporters attending the game can drop off any non-perishable food items right up until kick-off. Fans can also donate at: St Luke's Church on Goodison Road The People's Hub on Spellow Lane Everton Free School on Spellow Lane Blue Base on Salop Street Reader Comments (4) Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer Bobby Mallon 1 Posted 04/12/2019 at 18:18:12 Well done to each and everyone who contributes Steve Ferns 2 Posted 04/12/2019 at 18:21:37 Well said Bobby. Hopefully everyone can take a little something for the Chelsea game, even if it's just one jar or tin.The video is worth watching. You'll note that Moise Kean appears to understand English a lot better than you might have previously thought. Speaking wise he seems more nervous than unable to do so. A good sign for his long term future at the club. Jack Convery 3 Posted 04/12/2019 at 19:04:24 Great idea. Well done to all concerned. Vote Labour and we can get rid of foodbanks in 2020. Derek Knox 4 Posted 05/12/2019 at 08:12:53 While I applaud the players' involvement in this charitable scheme, is it not sad, that in this day and age there is still such a divide between the have's and the have not's?I would recommend for anyone to read (one of my favourite authors) 'Down and Out in Paris and London'. Considering it was written in 1933, George Orwell (aka Eric Arthur Blair, who had an Etonian Education, and later at Cambridge).He chose to divest himself of all material possessions to actually live the part, in order to fully appreciate what it was actually like to exist in such poverty. Many people through misfortune or a misguided lifestyle found themselves in a similar position, but never by choice.Alas, that was 86 years ago, since those messages and lessons from his book, and little has changed or been heeded. Add Your Comments In order to post a comment, you need to be logged in as a registered user of the site. » Log in now Or Sign up as a ToffeeWeb Member — it's free, takes just a few minutes and will allow you to post your comments on articles and Talking Points submissions across the site. About these ads