The Premier League club has overseen the donation of matchday food to help a joint initiative between rival fans support the region’s most vulnerable.
Everton have donated the food that was set to be served at Goodison Park during Saturday’s postponed Merseyside derby to Fan Supporting Foodbanks, a joint initiative between rival Liverpool F.C. and Everton F.C. supporters.
Founded in 2015 to tackle food poverty in Liverpool, the collaboration has helped to develop a network of fan-driven food banks across the UK.
The Toffees, through Everton in the Community and suppliers Sodexo, made the gesture after the match, which is expected to be the last tie between the two rivals at Goodison, was called off on Saturday morning because of severe weather caused by Storm Darragh.
It means huge quantities of food – including sausage rolls and pies – that would have catered for the sell-out 40,000 crowd has now been donated to foodbanks and good causes across Liverpool.
The club has added that other items will be gifted to Everton in the Community and distributed via their programmes and initiatives throughout the coming week.
Hi Everton….
— FANS SUPPORTING FOODBANKS #RightToFood (@SFoodbanks) December 7, 2024
Safety of fans is always paramount. Good call
We are more than happy to take any food, pies, sausage rolls or surplus food to distribute at our Pantries and Breakfast Club.#RightToFood https://t.co/aVWjNXilpP pic.twitter.com/KmzLWr7Ij1
The initiative Fans Supporting Foodbanks had been due to occupy their usual position in Goodison’s Fan Zone, where they collect donations from supporters ahead of each home fixture.
Immediately upon learning of the postponement, the group contacted Club officials and, working with Sodexo Live, each team worked together to quickly move the food from Goodison to where it could be redistributed.
In an ideal world, food banks would not need to exist, but Everton’s gesture ensures the food goes to a good cause.