Referrals for members of the Preston community to receive a PNECET Helping Hamper have now closed, almost eleven weeks on from the launch of the campaign.
The club and the Community and Education Trust’s joint initiative has seen around 1,300 deliveries made of our Helping Hampers to vulnerable members of the community in Preston and its surrounding areas.
Helping Hampers have been delivered to the club’s elderly season ticket holders, members of PNECET’s PNE Forces, Sporting Memories and walking football programmes, and to those in need who have been nominated to receive a hamper.
However, after donations from the first team squad, management and general public – followed by grants from the Lancashire Covid-19 Community Support Fund and the Martin Lewis Community Support Fund – allowed those deliveries to be made, further referrals and deliveries will now no longer take place.
Head of Community Tom Drake said: “We have been delighted to serve the Preston community over the past ten weeks by delivering our PNECET Helping Hampers.
“These deliveries will have made a real difference to the lives of so many people in and around Preston, catering to the club’s season ticket holders and PNECET programme members, but also those who are most vulnerable during this challenging time.
“It has been important for us not only to make these essential food deliveries, but to also include a range of engaging materials within the hampers. Our team will no doubt have brought a smile to so many people’s faces while making the deliveries and stopping for a doorstep chat with recipients at a time where social isolation is also such a prevalent issue.
“Although our Helping Hampers campaign is ending, we will continue to serve the Preston community throughout this challenging time and hope to reunite with new and existing participants and season ticket holders very soon, of course when safe to do so.”
The club and the Community and Education Trust are thankful to everyone who contributed to the PNECET Helping Hampers initiative, including those who donated, the many partner organisations who helped to stock our hampers, our hardworking volunteers and all of those who referred a vulnerable person to receive a hamper.
We have also been proud to serve the Fishwick and St Matthew’s areas – thanks to a designated grant for its residents – where Helping Hampers will continue to be delivered until a target of 300 deliveries has been reached.
For referrals in the Fishwick and St Matthew’s districts before the end of this week, please contact mel@pne.com.