Rochdale AFC players Jimmy Ryan, Kwadwo Baah and Matty Done paid a visit to the Community Warehouse this week, supporting the fight against hunger by donating activity packs for families in need across the Borough.
Along with kitman Jack Northover and Community Trust Manager Siobhan McElhinney, the players delivered 50 care packs to the Community Warehouse at Sparth Community Centre, made up of footballs, sports equipment, water bottles, gym bags, reading books and note pads that will be distributed by foodbanks and pantry’s across to those who need them.
Julie Durrant, from Action Together, was on hand to take in the donations and give the players a tour of the facility, showing how the Food Solutions Network is tackling hunger and food poverty in the Borough.
The packs, put together by Rochdale AFC Community Trust following a donation from Action Together, will complement the regular ‘at home’ activities that are being delivered as part of the Premier League Primary Stars and Premier League Kicks initiatives by the club’s charitable trust.
“The pandemic has affected so many people and the need for families to be supported in Rochdale is greater now more than ever” commented Ryan Bradley, Community Director.
“The care packs are just one way in which we at Rochdale AFC in the Community Trust are trying to lead the recovery from the virus locally and it’s great to have the support of the first team players and staff”.
Rochdale AFC Community Trust have also established a Community Food Pantry at the Crown Oil Arena, providing free food parcels and low cost shopping to those who need it as well as distributing hundreds of free footballs to youngsters across the Borough as part of their Call for a Ball campaign.
The first team players have also recorded messages of support for various Covid related campaigns.
“We can’t wait to get fans back to the stadium and get out there working in communities again.
As a charity, we [Rochdale AFC Community Trust] have been fortunate enough to offer staff vaccines which will allow us to deliver further front line services, such as the help of mass testing at schools.
If we all play our part I’m sure we can get back to some sort of normality.” Finished Bradley.
To find out more about the work of Rochdale AFC Community Trust please follow them on Facebook/Twitter or email community@rochdaleafc.co.uk