BURTON Albion fans are being asked to help the YMCA tomorrow evening to provide food for families in crisis by bringing grocery items to tomorrow night’s fixture against Queens Park Rangers.
YMCA Burton volunteers will be on hand to collect any donations and to make sure they are distributed to those who are in need.
Paul Laffey who is the chief executive of the YMCA Burton said: “The YMCA food bank has been running for 14 years and we rely on local churches, schools, organisations and businesses to donate the food which we give out to those in crises.
“That might be people who have lost their jobs, or are waiting for benefits to come through. We have had pensioners who are struggling to make ends meet – people from all walks of life. We get referrals from social services and housing associations, health authorities and GPS.
“In August, 155 people needed our help including 43 children – which was a record for all the years we have been keeping statistics. We suspect this was because children weren’t getting free school meals during the summer holidays. Last year we saw more than 1,500 people come to us – and they can only use us four times a year as it’s not a replacement to their food shopping, it’s just those who are in crisis. Food is a basic necessity we take for granted and we see people in a very distressed state.
“There are a number of items we are running very low on and we would say to all the fans that it will make a big difference to many lives if they can help us out.”
Burton Albion chairman Ben Robinson, who is also president of the Burton YMCA, said: “Our fans were very generous last year when we asked for donations last season and I would urge them to support this important cause again this year. It really does make a big impact.”
Items that fans are encouraged to bring: UHT Milk (500ml or 1 litre cartons or screw top bottles), Coffee, teabags, Sugar, tinned meals: Irish stew, Chilli con carne, Spaghetti bolognese, Ravioli, Macaroni cheese, hot dogs, Minced beef, Curry, Meatballs, Casserole, tinned Corned Beef/Ham/Spam/luncheon meat, tinned Potatoes, tinned tomatoes, Pasta, Pasta sauce, Rice, savoury rice, noodles, pot noodles, tinned fruit, Rice pudding, Custard and biscuits/cereal bars/crackers.