Preston North End players and staff donate Helping Hampers for those in need

A recipient of a Helping Hamper Pic: PNECET — Over 300 hampers have been delivered in three weeks

Elderly and vulnerable people around Preston are receiving surprise hampers from Preston North End.

Helping Hampers is a joint initiative between the club and Preston North End Community and Education Trust (PNECET), which has seen over 300 hampers delivered in the past three weeks.

The hampers have been funded by donations from North End players, manager and staff, and through grants including one from the Lancashire Covid-19 Community Support Fund.

The hampers contain a selection of food, drinks, toiletries and other items like PNE matchday programmes and exercise sheets.

The hampers were initially delivered to people accessing PNECET’s walking football, sporting memories and armed forces programmes. They are now going to older and disabled season ticket holders, plus vulnerable people nominated by family and friends.

This week the PNECET delivery team was joined by PNE’s Advisor to the Owner, Peter Ridsdale.

Peter Ridsdale delivering a hamper Pic: @pnefc — Peter Ridsdale helped deliver hampers earlier this week Pic: @pnefc

One recipient, Derek Barton, has supported PNE since he moved to Preston in 1964. He said: “I am 73, have disabilities and am a disabled season ticket holder, which means I can take a carer for free with me to games.

“Not being able to get out I am having to rely on others to get the things I need. The delivery was a welcome surprise. There was tinned stuff like soups, veg, fruit, corned beef, tuna, plus baking potatoes, bread, fresh chicken, tea, sugar, coffee, salt and pepper, biscuits, breakfast cereal and two toilet rolls.”

What do you think of the Helping Hampers initiative? Let us know in the comments.