Fan activism at its best
Founded in October 2015 Fans Supporting Foodbanks was a joint initiative between Spirit of Shankly and Everton’s Blue Union.
SOS committee member Ian Byrne alongside Dave Kelly from Everton’s Blue Union led the grassroots initiative to fight food poverty.
Following a plea for donations for local foodbanks at a recent derby, both supporters’ groups have linked up with North Liverpool Foodbank and ABCC (Anfield Breckside Community Council) to organise weekly collections at every home game at Anfield and Goodison.
What started with three fans collecting tins of food in a wheelie bin outside the pub on match days now supplies 25% of all donations to North Liverpool Foodbanks and has become a grassroots organisation that stretches from Glasgow to London to Dublin.
Fighting poverty, promoting inclusivity
But we do more than just collect food. We educate people on the root causes of poverty and work to promote unity, equality and justice in our communities. It’s not about charity but solidarity.
We have extended our reach too, campaigning with period poverty campaigners to get free sanitary products placed into Liverpool and Everton Football Clubs.
We’re extremely proud of the strong relationships we’ve built with the Muslim community in Liverpool – with mosques collecting food and holding events to break down barriers between our communities.
These links have been invaluable in combating the threat of the far-right. When working-class communities come together to tackle their shared problems, it closes the space in which the far-right can organise, and their rhetoric can take hold.
We’ve united people of different backgrounds, different faiths, even people who wear different colours at the game.
#UnityIsStrength #HungerDoesntWearClubColours
Make a donation
Collections at Anfield from three hours before kick off at Fan Zone, Anfield Rd, Official Club Shop, Homebaked, Oakfield Road.
Not at Anfield?
Simply text FOODBANKFC to 70460 – donations cost £5, plus your standard network message rate.
Items regularly required
Match day collection points
Related News
Food bank collections – your support
Spirit of Shankly are delighted to share more positive news on the North Liverpool foodbank campaign. Following discussions and meetings throughout the summer with the Imman at the mosque at Brougham Terrace, they are to become a partner. They will hold collections on Fridays at weekly prayers.
Supporters organise food bank collections
This weekend sees the start of a new campaign as Spirit Of Shankly (SOS) and Everton Supporters Trust (EST) again join forces. This time though it’s not about what’s happening on the pitch.
