From Wednesday 18th November, the Foundation in partnership with Stevenage Football Club will be opening the doors of the Broadhall Suite at The Lamex Stadium to assist with the collection of food and toys to support local causes during the winter months...
Running from 11am-2pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays each week initially until Thursday 28th January, the Drop Zone will act as an additional location for fans and local residents to make donations to key local causes including the Food Shed, Toy Shed, Stevenage Community Food Bank plus East and North Hertfordshire Hospitals' Charity.
The Donation Drop Zone will run alongside the Friendly Chat service (01438 222222, Monday-Friday 10am-4pm), supporting local residents that want a friendly voice on the other end of the phone or need assistance during the winter months. As well as our commitment to provide thousands of activity packs to local school children, vulnerable adults, those in sheltered accommodation and patients at Lister Hospital in both the children's and elderly care wards.
Foundation CEO, Joe Goude said "When the second lockdown was announced, it was apparent that people in our local community were going to need some additional support. Throughout the year we've made some fantastic connections with some amazing organisations and we're committed to supporting them with the campaigns they are running to address real local needs of some of our residents.
"After discussion with the Council and their Stevenage Helps initiative as well as other partners, including Lister Hospital, we want to make ourselves useful and assist in local efforts. Food poverty is incredibly high on that list and we hope that the Donation Drop Zone will encourage fans and residents that can, to donate items that we can collect and work with local food banks to ensure they get to the people that need them most.
"We are also asking people who feel they can, to donate new toys that we can give to families that are struggling and children that will be spending Christmas in Lister Hospital, to make their Christmas period that bit more special. These do not need to be big items but just something that a local child can open at Christmas.
"As always, we are grateful for the incredible support our community and the club's fanbase shows us during these difficult periods and everyone here at the Foundation and Club are grateful for any support that can be given to these local causes."
The Donation Drop Zone will open on Wednesday 18th November from 11am-2pm in the Broadhall Suite at The Lamex Stadium, SG2 8RH and we ask that people travel alone to make donations. Please see below for a list of acceptable items.
Activity Packs for local residents will also be available to download from Friday 20th November and new versions will be released every two weeks until the end of January.
Food Items needed:*
- Cereal
- Soup
- Pasta
- Rice
- Tinned tomatoes / pasta sauce
- Lentils, beans and pulses
- Tinned meat
- Tinned vegetables
- Tea/coffee
- Tinned fruit
- UHT milk
- Fruit juice
* Please note that we cannot accept perishable short life items such as fresh meat, veg, milk etc.
Non-Food Items needed:
- Toiletries – deodorant, toilet paper, shower gel, shaving gel, shampoo, soap, toothbrushes, tooth paste, hand wipes
- Household items – laundry liquid detergent, laundry powder, washing up liquid
- Feminine products – sanitary towels and tampons
- Baby supplies – nappies, baby wipes and baby food
- Face masks and hand sanitiser
Full List Of Acceptable Food Items - CLICK HERE
Items needed for the Toy Shed & Sweet Bank Campaigns:
- New Toys (up to the value of £10)
- Advent Calenders
- Sealed Christmas Tins
- Biscuits
- Chocolate Selection Boxes
- Hot Chocolate
- Marshmallows
- Sweet Cones
See below for more information on other campaigns from some of our key partners:
East & North Hertfordshire Hospitals' Charity
Tree of Light: This Christmas sees the launch of the East and North Hertfordshire Hospitals' Charity's special Tree of Light event. Name a light on our spectacular Christmas Tree at the Lister Hospital in Stevenage to remember a loved one, to say thank you for care received by our Trust or to celebrate someone special to you - CLICK HERE
Christmas Jumper Day: On Friday 18th December wear a Christmas Jumper or some festive accessories and donate £2 to our charity. If you would like to take part we can provide posters for you to display in addition to fundraising buckets and tins. Please do share any photos from your day with them by tagging their social media accounts (@enhhcharity Facebook & Twitter) - CLICK HERE
People 4 People Stevenage
Children's Sweet Bank Hertfordshire: The Sweet Bank is a donation service in Hertfordshire that provides treats and sweets to local children who rely on food banks. - CLICK HERE
Stevenage Helps
Stevenage Helps response team has been supporting Stevenage families and individuals throughout the pandemic, by organising and providing emergency food supplies, helping people to access essential services, offering help and advice, providing holiday hunger food boxes and emergency food packages.
Working together with local voluntary and community organisations and local businesses who are offering assistance during the Covid-19 outbreak - CLICK HERE