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If you’re looking for a way to help, helping those who are the most vulnerable is a good place to start.
Food insecurity and poverty is, sadly, a problem even at the best of times. People across Merseyside shouldn’t have to rely on charitable donations given by Liverpool and Everton match goers, but that has become a stable for the most vulnerable people across the region.
It shouldn’t be this way, but decades of governmental neglect and austerity has created this need. And now, inadequate governmental response to this unfolding catastrophe is creating even more food poverty, affecting those who were already the most vulnerable.
The only way through this is through collective effort, and looking after each other. Last week, Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson led by example, giving a massive donation to Fans Supporting Foodbanks.
Now, the club’s charitable arm, the LFC Foundation, following suit, leading a donation drive to help support the Trussell Trust Foodbank network.
“It’s important during these difficult times that we continue to help the people who need our support the most,” Matt Parish, director of the LFC Foundation, said.
“It’s a priority for the club, the LFC Foundation, Red Neighbours and our fans, who have consistently showed their support of Fans Supporting Foodbanks on matchdays in recent years. We would encourage anyone who is able to make a donation to do so as it will make a big difference to the Trussell Trust’s foodbank networks in Liverpool and Merseyside.”
It would be nice if this statement included a promise of the club donating or matching up to a certain amount. But hopefully this is just the beginning from the LFC Foundation, and if so, it’s a good start.
This is just the beginning of this crisis, and likewise, we’ll need to step up our capacity for charity, especially in light of inadequate responses from local and national governments, as well as international organizations.
The only way through this is by sticking together. For most of the time, that means staying away from others. But that also means helping when and where you can. One way to help is by donating directly to the foodbank, here.
Stay safe, friends.
