OLDHAM Rugby League Club’s ever-developing community programme is breaking new ground by forming links with the local Foodbank.
As a result foodbank staff and volunteers will be attending the Betfred League 1 game against Coventry Bears at the Vestacare Stadium on Sunday, May 19 (3pm kick-off).
They will set up a collection station inside the ground where fans will be able to donate non-perishable, tinned or long-life packaged foods and other items such as toiletries like soap, toothpaste and shower gels.
Said club chairman Chris Hamilton: “People are aware of their vital work in providing much-needed help to people and families in difficult times and Oldham RLFC is keen to help them.
“We hope our fans will bring donations of non-perishable food items with them to the Coventry game to boost Foodbank supplies and to help fellow Oldhamers who are perhaps less fortunate than themselves.”
Lisa Leunig, one of the Foodbank managers, said: “This is a fantastic initiative by Oldham RLFC and we are truly grateful.
“I don’t know whether any members of our team are rugby league fans, but I’m sure they soon will be as a direct result of our new relationship.
“This is a classic case of Oldham people helping fellow Oldhamers and that’s what we’re all about.”
Last year the local foodbank supplied 7,435 three-day emergency food supplies to Oldham people in crisis.
Situated at The Three Crowns Centre in Manchester Street, Oldham, (tel: 0161 622 1061; email: info@oldham.foodbank.org.uk), the foodbank is desperately short of carrier bags and would love to receive some along with appropriate food.
Added Lisa: “While we are grateful for anything, we have about 10,000 tins of baked beans in stock, but we are really in need of long-life milk, tinned fruit, tinned tomatoes, jams, tinned rice puddings as well as all sorts of toiletries.”
Coventry arrive buoyed by a 41-30 home win against Workington Town, one of the pre-match favourites for promotion.
Having recently parted company with Leon Pryce as head coach and appointed Chris Thorman as his successor, the Cumbrians were anxious to kick-start their Betfred League 1 campaign.
But they were undone by the Bears for whom Kam Pearce-Paul, who once had a brief stay on loan with Roughyeds while on loan from London Broncos, played at centre.
They also fielded two Australians in man-of-the-match scrum-half Nick Newman and hooker Mitch Shaw, both from Queensland.