Running Foxes Reach out to Community to Donate to Local Foodbank

The Running Foxes link up with the Leicester South Foodbank arm of The Trussell Trust for the second time in three years “ following a year’s hiatus due to the pandemic.

The aim of the collaboration is for anyone associated with Leicestershire County Cricket Club to donate food items to ensure that people locked in poverty are provided with emergency food over the festive period.

The longer-term goal of the collaboration is to join the campaign to end the need for foodbanks in the UK as well as providing those referred with a balanced and nutritious three-day supply of food.

The Trussell Trust have organised a number of donation baskets to be dropped off at the Uptonsteel County Ground for people to call in and help those in need with the donation of non-perishable items.

A list of urgently required foods for the foodbank can be found HERE.

Mark Barber, Head of Community at Leicestershire CCC commented: “We here at Leicestershire County Cricket Club have collected donations in the lead up to Christmas for The Trussell Trust since 2017, where staff, suppliers and Members responded extremely kindly.

“To have Harry [Dearden], George [Rhodes] and Lewis [Hill] physically hand over the food to the foodbank was a real eye opener for the Club.

“Having seen the generosity over the course of the coronavirus pandemic across Leicester means that we are keen to use our position at the cricket to help give back to a community that gives so much to us.”

The donation baskets will be available at the Uptonsteel County Ground from 3rd November, and will be here at least until the new year, for those interested in donating.

Bruce Harrison, Operational Manager at The Trussell Trust said: “To have the help of Leicestershire County Cricket Club once again will make a huge difference to the amount of food received.

“The input they had in 2019 went a long way in helping those in dire need leading up to the festive period.

“We would like to thank everyone in advance for their generosity and can assure you that you have a made a huge difference in someone’s life.”

Sean Jarvis, CEO at Leicestershire CCC added: “This time of year is increasingly difficult for a number of families, regardless of whether we are coming out of a pandemic or not.

“To add the fact that we are coming out of a pandemic into that mix makes things all the more difficult, and we are Leicestershire CCC will do our best to help support those in need.”

He continued: “As one of the communities leading sports clubs it is important that we want to do our bit to help, and to also recruit as many supporters as we can to help the cause.”

Leicestershire CCC are also in the process of looking to link up with a local charity that deals in toy donations to further help those in need during the festive period.