By Andy Hirst
Town fans have been urged to help food banks by donating food as they arrive at home games.
Huddersfield Town Foundation’s Fans for Food Banks scheme provides three collection points just outside the John Smith’s Stadium where supporters can drop in badly needed food before watching the Terriers in action.
The scheme, backed by Huddersfield Town Supporters’ Association, has been running since 2018 when fans were donating up to 800 items per matchday but that number has dropped off considerably since the onset of the Covid pandemic.
The Welcome Centre food bank in Huddersfield has recently warned that exceptionally high energy prices coupled with roaring inflation will lead to a ‘perfect storm’ of poverty with more pressure heaped on food banks than ever before.
Since the turn of the year The Welcome Centre has seen a huge increase in the number of children it’s helping – up from 296 in January 2021 to 519 last month.
There were 1,126 referrals to the service this January and 34,000 meals were provided for 1,352 people.
Welcome Centre chief executive Ellie Coteau said: “We knew there would be a spike in January but nowhere near as large as this. Most people are only one or two pay cheques away from needing a food bank.
“The cost of living is so expensive many simply have no cash reserves. Others just don’t have a family to support them and we become their safety net. People end up needing our help even though they have worked hard all their lives but their circumstances can change in a heartbeat.”
Huddersfield Town Foundation fundraising executive Lisa Bottomley said: “We just wanted to give it a push again especially as food banks need people’s support now more than ever before.”
The three drop-off points manned by volunteers are inside the Town shop, outside the new community hub close to the ticket office and outside the health club reception.
READ MORE: The Welcome Centre warns of ‘perfect storm’
Items needed must be in-date and long-life such as tinned food, cleaning products, toiletries, tea, coffee, hot chocolate and, as we are getting near to spring, Easter eggs would give families a great treat. Tinned dog and cat food is also needed.
The donations are split between The Welcome Centre and Batley Food Bank.
People can make donations at the Huddersfield Town Foundation office at the Leeds Road Sports Complex from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.
* Written by ANDY HIRST who runs his own Yorkshire freelance journalism agency AH! PR (https://ah-pr.com/) specialising in press releases, blogging and copywriting. Copyright Andy Hirst.
