Pre-Match Foodbank Collection

COLERAINE fans are kindly asked to donate to the Causeway Foodbank…

Coleraine Football Club are taking donations at The Showgrounds to coincide with the game against Crusaders this Saturday.

Bannsiders fans are asked to help local people in crisis by donating items to Causeway Foodbank, located beside The Showgrounds at local charity Vineyard Compassion.

The Causeway Foodbank handed out over seven and a half tonnes of emergency food parcels to 947 local people during 2018, an increase of almost 10% from the previous year.

And as the pressure grows on the organisation, Causeway Foodbank is asking the Bannsiders to make donations of food to coincide with the upcoming Danske Bank Premiership clash against Crusaders.

Simon Magee, Coleraine Football Club Director, said: “We are keen to support Causeway Foodbank and the great work they do in tackling local poverty.

“We urge all Bannsiders to get behind this initiative and help local people in crisis.”

The foodbank will welcome any donations, but faces particular shortages in UHT milk, pasta sauces, biscuits, mash, tinned tomatoes, fruit juice, chocolate, soup, teabags, coffee, cereal, tinned soup, tinned tomatoes, tinned vegetables, tinned meat, tinned fish, rice pudding, tinned fruit, tinned sponge pudding, dried pasta and rice.

Star player Gareth McConaghie, said: “I have visited Causeway Foodbank and seen the amazing work the charity does. Let’s show our support by helping stock up the Foodbank warehouse and look after those who are struggling in the community”

The collection point on the day at The Showgrounds will be at the turnstiles. Fans unable to make the game on the 21^st September can make donations anytime at Tesco, ASDA & Sainsburys in Coleraine or Tesco in Portstewart or at Vineyard Compassion on Hillmans Way.

Causeway Foodbank is part of a national network, supported by the Trussell Trust, that is working to combat poverty and hunger across the country.

Joanne McCracken, Causeway Foodbank Manager, said: “It’s a sad fact of life that more and more people across the UK are reliant on foodbanks to be able to feed their families.

“We would urge fans attending Saturday’s game to back the initiative by making a donation which really could make a difference to people in the local community.”