“But we continue to work towards a time when we don’t need foodbanks”
County Cllr Julie Gibson has praised the work of the local Fans Supporting Foodbanks group in highlighting food poverty across the Borough. The local group, who collect outside the home matches of Skelmersdale United, are part of a network of football fans who come together before matches to collect for local foodbanks. The local group came together earlier in the year and have established a regular presence at Skelmersdale United home games.
Supported by many fans across the Borough the key driver has been community activist Melissa Parlour who explained: “Fans supporting foodbanks was the initiative of Ian Byrne MP and Dave Kelly, Liverpool and Everton fans respectively, who came together to tackle food poverty and hunger across the city by asking fans at the matches to donate supplies. These supplies were then distributed to foodbanks across the city. As a volunteer at our local foodbank, I contacted local councillors and other community activists to see if we could set up similar at Skelmersdale United home matches.”
Melissa continued: “We have steadily built a presence at match days with both home and away fans bringing much needed supplies which we then drop off at the local foodbank distribution point. We have been overwhelmed by the response and would like to thank all those who have donated. We would also like to thank all at Skem United, the Board, the players, the fans for their kind support in allowing us the chance to collect before the match and contribute donations where they can.”
Commenting on the initiative Cllr Julie Gibson said: “In a country which has the fifth largest economy we look forward to the day when we do not have to collect for the local foodbanks. But more people – including those in work who are struggling with rising prices, but not rising wages – are having to turn to foodbanks to make ends meet. Sadly, as we face a deepening cost of living crisis and the added pressures of Christmas this support is needed more than ever, and I would ask everyone to add a donation to the foodbank to their shopping list. All donations can be dropped off at the game or at the many foodbank collection points across the Borough.”
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