Celtic FC Foundation and Glasgow NE Foodbank Food Collection

‘Many cases of sheer poverty are left unaided through lack of means. It is, therefore, with this principle object that we have set afloat the ‘Celtic’
Brother Walfrid, November 1887

ON Saturday April 8, 2017, ahead of our home match against Kilmarnock, a joint initiative between Celtic FC Foundation and partner Glasgow NE Foodbank, along with the incredible support of thousands of Celtic fans will once more address issues of poverty and hunger in our society by collecting items requested by local and national Foodbanks to be distributed to those most in need.

Two years ago on April 15, 2015, Celtic fans marked the 100th anniversary of Brother Walfrid’s passing by following the principles upon which he founded the club and organised a food collection to support the work of Foodbanks in and around the West of Scotland.

The legacy of Brother Walfrid is a football club fundamentally committed to his ideals of supporting those in need locally, nationally and far beyond national borders. Celtic FC Foundation continues to deliver this legacy on a daily basis and with its continued partnership with the Glasgow NE Foodbank, which was established in 2013, we are able to work together help alleviate some of the challenges in the local area and beyond.

We would like to invite all supporters who are attending the match against Kilmarnock on April 8 to bring a donation for the foodbanks we are supporting.

Further details on what to bring will be announced next week. There will be three drop-off stations:

- The Clover (main collection) and the West and East entrance areas along Janefield Street.

Celtic FC Foundation Chief Executive, Tony Hamilton said: “It is with regret that foodbanks exist but they do and we are committed to helping where we can. The partner we have in the NE Foodbank provide a terrific and much-needed service to thousands of people, as do similar organisations.

“The Celtic supporters have always responded to these appeals and I would ask that they do so again. It’s not only our partnership foodbank which will benefit from this, but several other foodbanks across the west of Scotland.”

Tara Maguire, Glasgow NE Foodbank Co-ordinator, added: “Since opening its doors in September 2013, Glasgow NE has assisted over 10,723 men, women and children with emergency food.

"We have distributed approximately 25,000kg of stock and approx 98 per cent of this has been donated from caring citizens, intent on making a difference across the East End of Glasgow.

“We hope to extend such generosity once again across the West of Scotland and beyond and have invited several different food provision agencies to benefit from the record breaking donations of Celtic supporters.

“Celtic supporters are integral in helping us all maintain vital services and more importantly, offer hope, to those experiencing hardship.”

Celtic FC Foundation announced its continuing partnership with Glasgow North East Foodbank, based at Calton Parkhead Parish Church in December 2016.

Since our initial investment in 2013, from proceeds secured through the Stiliyan Petrov Charity Match, Celtic FC Foundation have been a great supporter of the Foodbank and their vision to be ‘more than a Foodbank’.

Developing and growing this partnership further, Celtic FC Foundation is proud to continue to support a service which provides critical help to those in need and which sits here on our doorstep and beyond and encompasses the very ethos of why our club was formed.

The main ‘Hub’ based at Calton Parkhead Parish church not only supplies nutritionally-balanced emergency food parcels three days a week to those in crisis, but offers a much-needed cup of tea and a friendly face to talk to in times of turmoil and confusion. These services also extend to a further five units including:

- Bridgeton, St Francis in the East

- Sandyhills Parish Church

- Shettleston Old Parish Church

- St Enoch's Hogganfield Parish Church


- Blairtummock Community Hall

 

I won't be able to make it but are there plans to enable cash donations to help.
If so, please let me know and i will donate to this very worthy cause.

 

Great cause.

 

CELTIC FC Foundation’s ongoing commitment to improving Health, promoting Equality, encouraging Learning and tackling Poverty continues with two upcoming initiatives firmly focused on HELPing others.

Ahead of the home game against Kilmarnock this Saturday, April 8 (KO: 3pm), Celtic FC Foundation, in partnership with Glasgow NE Foodbank, will host a food collection inviting supporters to donate items to be distributed to those most in need.

Urgently required items:
Tinned fruit
Tinned custard/rice
Pasta sauces
Tinned tomatoes
Cereals
Tinned fish
Tinned vegetables
UHT milk
UHT juice
Sugar - 500g
Toiletries (Unisex)
Larger sized nappies/wipes

Around Celtic Park, there will be three drop-off stations:
- The Clover (main collection) and the West and East entrance areas along Janefield Street.

Beneficiaries confirmed to date:
Airdrie Foodbank
Clydesdale Foodbank, Carluke
Coatbridge Community Foodbank
Drumchapel Foodbank
Glasgow North East Foodbank
Glasgow North West Foodbank
Glasgow South East foodbank
Glasgow South West Foodbank
Loaves and Fishes
Renfrewshire foodbank

Celtic FC Foundation will provide a bag for life for this collection. You can collect your bag from the various outlets below from Tuesday, April 4:

- Celtic Stores – Superstore, Argyle Street, East Kilbride, Coatbridge, Clydebank and Greenock. (Bags will be available from the Belfast and Dublin stores from Wednesday, April 5.)

- Celtic Pools Office

- Glasgow North East Foodbank, Carlton Parish Church - see website for opening times https://glasgowne.foodbank.org.uk/

In December 2016, Celtic FC Foundation announced its continuing partnership with Glasgow North East Foodbank, based at Calton Parkhead Parish Church.

Since our initial investment in 2013, we have been a great supporter of the organisation and their vision to be ‘more than a Foodbank’.

For more details on this collection, please email: info@glasgowne.foodbank.org.uk

It promises to be a bustling afternoon on The Celtic Way, as alongside our food drive, the pre-match itinerary will also see Celtic FC Foundation’s inaugural ‘Healthy Hoops’ event.

Promoting fitness and wellbeing, the ‘Healthy Hoops’ initiative will feature organisations offering advice on a variety of health-related issues, including -

- Glasgow Council on Alcohol
- British Heart Foundation
- Coppafeel (Breast Cancer Awareness)
- Alzheimer Scotland
- Prostate Cancer
- NHS Organ Donation
- Penumbra (Mental Health Awareness)
- Celtic FC Foundation’s Gateway to Health and Opportunity
-Football Fans in Training (in association with the SPFL Trust)

Celtic FC Foundation’s ‘Healthy Hoops’ event will be live from 12noon until kick-off, with stalls situated in the disabled car park adjacent to The Celtic Way.

Speaking about the food collection and ‘Healthy Hoops’ event, Celtic FC Foundation CEO, Tony Hamilton, said: “These two initiatives mark another example of our determined focus around Health, Equality, Learning and Poverty.

“The food drive closely aligns with our origins as a club established to alleviate hunger for vulnerable people in our society and we are grateful for the typically generous support we receive from the Celtic Family.

“Consistent with Celtic FC Foundation’s activities around health and wellbeing, ‘Healthy Hoops’ promises to be a hugely worthwhile event offering real value and practical advice for supporters. It’s an ideal opportunity to learn about common health-related issues in a friendly, interactive setting and I’m certain it will be a useful outlet for those on the Celtic Way pre-match.”

 

Amazing response..

 

Great response just find it sad that we have the need for food banks

 

AS the sun shone on Celtic Park on Saturday afternoon, charity was very much the theme of the day on the Celtic Way pre-match, with the day’s fixture also seeing Celtic FC Foundation’s inaugural ‘Healthy Hoops’ event.

In line with the World Health Organisation’s World Health Day directive, ‘Healthy Hoops’ saw a host of organisations offering advice on lifestyle, fitness and general wellbeing, as well as a large scale food collection with our partners, Glasgow North East Foodbank and Calton Parkhead Parish Church.

The day started off with incredible generosity, provided by fans who brought bags upon bags of dry and tinned goods, as well as toiletries, baby items and Easter Eggs.

There were 17 Foodbank beneficiaries onsite who each received approximately half a tonne of food and dry goods to take back to the following outlets - an astonishing feat and one which would not have been possible without all the fantastic volunteers who helped out on the day.

Celtic FC Foundation and its partners would also like to thank supporters who made a monetary donation on Saturday. The money donated, over £3,000, will provide approximately 400 lunches for those who are homeless in our community, around Brother Walfrid’s anniversary.

Through our existing relationships with local charities who work with the homeless, we will work together to identify guests who will attend an anniversary lunch here at Celtic Park, commemorating Brother Walfrid’s legacy.

Beneficiaries of the food collection included:
Airdrie Foodbank
Clydesdale Foodbank, Carluke
Coatbridge Community Foodbank
Drumchapel Foodbank
East Ayrshire
Glasgow North East Foodbank
Glasgow North West Foodbank
Glasgow South East foodbank
Glasgow South West Foodbank
Loaves and Fishes
Multi-cultural society
North Ayrshire
Parkhead Salvation Army
Renfrewshire Foodbank
Unity Night Shelter
The Everlasting Foodbank
West Dumbartonshire Community Foodshare

Focusing on the Health and Wellbeing area of our work, we were delighted to have the following organisations in attendance on the day, offering advice and support to supporters and their families, making their way to the match.

- Glasgow Council on Alcohol
- Anthony Nolan Trust
- SAMH
- British Heart Foundation
- Coppafeel (Breast Cancer Awareness)
- Alzheimer Scotland
- Prostate Cancer
- Penumbra (Mental Health Awareness)
- Celtic FC Foundation’s Gateway to Health and Opportunity
-Football Fans in Training (in association with the SPFL Trust)

Celtic FC Foundation Chief Executive, Tony Hamilton, said: “It was a magnificent response to the appeal, which many people associated with the Club, the Foundation and our partners in the Glasgow North East Foodbank assisted on.

“However, the credit is to the Celtic supporters who once again demonstrated tremendous generosity of spirit both in terms of volunteering and donating. Thousands of families in the west of Scotland, who rely on support from Foodbanks, will be helped in the coming weeks because of this kindness.”