Preston North End and Preston North End Community and Education Trust delivered 140 essential food hampers to vulnerable families in Deepdale during February half-term.
Partly funded by the club and the Trust, partnerships with local councillors, the Lancashire BME Network and community groups Preston United, Deepdale Community Association and the JJ Effect - along with the goodwill of local businesses such as Morrisons, KGN Food Store and Bolton Halal Meat Butchers – helped to make the initiative a success.
Deepdale councillors Zafar Coupland, Ismail Bax and Siraz Natha identified five schools in the area – Deepdale Community Primary School, Holme Slack Community Primary School, English Martyrs’ Catholic Primary School, St Ignatius’ Catholic Primary School and St Gregory’s Catholic Primary School – and school staff then identified the families most in need to receive essential goods.
Identified families were visited at their addresses as goods were delivered from the Trust. Students and their families from other schools were also recipients of hampers.
Another 30 families identified by Deepdale Community Association also received hampers, with all hampers distributed across the community consisting of culturally themed items where advised, catering for those from minority ethnic backgrounds.
Head of Community Engagement Rebecca Robertson reflected: “Delivering hampers to those most in need in Deepdale over the past week has been a really rewarding experience.
“We have engaged with new families on the doorstep of the stadium through this initiative, which has provided vital support with the provision of essential goods during the half-term period – a challenging enough time for many families regardless of the current pandemic.
“Half-term can be especially difficult for families when children are unable to access free school meals, so it has been really important once again for Preston North End to reach out and provide this vital support over this period.
“The hampers have included culturally themed goods, meaning our support has been well-valued by those from minority ethnic backgrounds, while ensuring that our provision has been as diverse as possible.
“We’re thankful to our three Deepdale councillors and the many community groups and local businesses who have all been incredible in making this initiative a success.”
For more information about community initiatives, please email community@pne.com.