Football for Peace (FfP), a global organization that uses football (soccer) to raise awareness of pressing social and environmental issues, received a big boost for its “Football for Peace Food Drive” campaign this month from Delaware North’s team at Wembley Stadium in London.
Due to the ongoing disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Wembley Stadium has been unable to host major football and hospitality events and has accumulated a surplus store of approximately 500,000 items of food. FfP and Delaware North wanted to ensure this food does not go to waste and is instead put to good use in supporting families who are in need.
“We are very happy to be part of the Football for Peace Food Drive and provide clubs, charities and families with essential food at this challenging time for the nation,” said Harry Lomas, Delaware North’s head of culinary at Wembley Stadium.
Working alongside Aldi, the logistics partner for the Football for Peace Food Drive, unused food from Wembley Stadium will be transported to the football clubs, which will then distribute the supplies within their local communities via foodbank networks.
The effort is being supported by six English football clubs – Liverpool FC, Everton FC, Aston Villa, Oxford United, Wycombe Wanderers and Sutton United – which will distribute surplus food supplies from Wembley Stadium to families in need across the nation. Half a million food items will be delivered, with help from Aldi, the clubs, players and fans.
As the U.K. marks one year since the beginning of the first national lockdown, the Football for Peace Food Drive campaign is bringing the football family together to provide essential food items to areas in need and helping those who have endured recent hardship brought on by COVID-19 social and economic challenges.
“We understand that there is an increasing number of families struggling to put food on the table,” said Mary Dunn, managing director for corporate responsibility at Aldi. “So we’re pleased to be able to play our part, alongside Football for Peace, to help distribute these meals to those in need.”