Liverpool FC’s players and staff have come together to support the Fans Supporting Foodbanks charity during the Premier League suspension due to the Coronavirus.
The cancellation of matches means the charity will lose a significant portion of their weekly income towards helping combat the foodbank crisis in Merseyside.
25% of their donations alone come from matchday collections outside of Anfield and Goodison Park so as games are suspended until April 4 at the earliest, a significant void in regular supplies exists.
However, the Reds first-team squad and LFC Foundation has specifically committed to jointly donating £10,000 per game for the four remaining league fixtures scheduled to be played at Anfield in 2019-20 to ensure the foodbank can continue to function.
Similarly, MP Ian Byrne said that captain Jordan Henderson reached out to him and has committed to covering the shortfalls the charity will have due to the Coronavirus outbreak.
A message from the club read:
“From our team to your team. Your vital work matters now more than ever.
“Donation from LFC players, LFC Foundation and your friends in the Red Neighbours team… Unity is Strength. Take care of each other. YNWA”
A statement from the LFC foundation read:
“The postponement of Premier League matches, particularly the Merseyside derby, means a potential shortfall in donations to the North Liverpool Foodbank – and as a club it is imperative we support its crucial work in the local community even further at this difficult time,” said Matt Parish, LFC Foundation director.
“We hope the collective backing of the club’s first-team players, LFC Foundation and Red Neighbours programmes, and staff, can help to alleviate concerns around the absence of the usual matchday collections.
“Our fans have consistently gone above and beyond in their backing for Fans Supporting Foodbanks in recent years and we would encourage anyone who is able to make a donation at any of our collection points or via the online fundraiser.”
As well as that, an online fundraiser has been set up to assist their efforts. Despite a goal of £10,000, the amount raised has exceeded £50,000 so far and is still rising.
Picture by Eric The Fish under Creative Commons License
