Foodbank Collection support

Ahead of tomorrow’s Foodbank Collection at Solitude, Sinead McKinley of the North Belfast Advice Partnership has thanked Cliftonville fans in advance for their generosity.

Always enthusiastically backed by our supporters, this year’s annual collection will take place ahead of the weekend’s Danske Bank Premiership fixture with Glenavon, to which our fans are invited to bring foods – with particular recommendations for easy-to-carry items such as Smash dried potatoes, Fray Bentos pies, corned meat and tinned ham – which will be gathered at a specially designated area near the turnstiles.

These goods will then be donated to North Belfast Advice Partnership for further distribution to those in need in our local area, with the organisation appreciative of the opportunity to make up Christmas Hampers and prepare for 2019 with the support of Cliftonville FC.

Since the Foodbank’s establishment in 2014, NBAP have assisted over 600 families with crisis intervention food parcels and a further 300+ families with Christmas Hampers, distributing in excess of 8000 meals to households in North Belfast. This ensures struggling families are able to have three well-balanced, nutritional meals per day while many of them are experiencing emotional, health or financial problems.

“Last year, we got 200 hampers out to local people, this year we have 300 on the list,” explains Sinead.

“This year we have teamed up with St Pat’s Soup Kitchen, Haven, Oasis and Antrim Road Baptist Church so we can reach out to as many as possible and working together helps us share resources.

“We really need soups, tinned meat and fish, pasta, rice, toiletries are always good and, as we have loads of kids on the hamper list, maybe a selection pack or a few biscuits.

“Our service provides hampers to users of other services such as the Welcome Centre, Social Services, PIPS, Homecare, Extern, Family Support Hubs, Sure Starts, housing association tenants and community groups so this really is a community initiative with groups all across North Belfast working together to support local people.

“The Christmas food drive makes such a difference to people who are struggling financially. It’s not just a helping hand that frees up other income, in many ways it say we care and understand, that really touches people and makes them so appreciative of the help.”

In addition to tomorrow’s collection, Cliftonville FC urges our fans to make their own regular donations – no matter how big or small – to ensure that those around us who need our help can benefit from it, with further information available by clicking here.

Items to donate
Rice/ Pasta/ Noodles
Jars of Cook-In Sauces
Soups
Jams
Tea/ Coffee/ Sugar
Biscuits/ Chocolates
Desserts
Tins of Peas/ Carrots/ Beans
Tin Fruit/ Custard/ Jelly
Cereal
Tins of Meat/ Fish
Toiletries
Washing-Up Liquid
Washing Powder
Nappies
Baby Wipes
Talcum Powder
Baby Shampoo
Long Life Milk
£5 Vouchers for Asda/ Tesco (for milk, bread etc)