Liverpool Football Club has distributed a number of Christmas hampers to Daisy Inclusive UK as part of the club’s annual Operation Magic campaign.
The Reds, who are top of the Christmas tree following yesterday’s thrilling 6-3 Premier League victory over Spurs, have delivered festive hampers to more than 2,000 families across the city.
Daisy Inclusive UK Disability Hate Crime Officer Barbara Kennedy was on hand to collect the hampers from Anfield, where former players Becky Easton and Chris Kirkland joined Liverpool FC Women ambassador Natasha Dowie helped distribute the festive goodies.
Easton, who played 44 times for the Lionesses, met Daisy Inclusive UK staff and beneficiaries at an event held at Anfield earlier this month where she found out more about the charity.
Each hamper provided four days’ worth of fresh food for a family of four to enjoy, including a fresh turkey with all the trimmings for the perfect roast dinner, as well as a host of Christmas treats.
The initiative is just one part of the Operations Magic campaign, which sees the club and LFC Foundation come together alongside supporters, partners and the wider community to help thousands of local people and families throughout the festive period.
The community Christmas campaign is now in its fifth year and has a special focus on children and food poverty, with a range of initiatives and events planned throughout December to help spread some Christmas magic in the community.
Dave Kelly, Daisy Inclusive UK CEO said: “A huge thank you to Liverpool Football Club for their lovely hampers, which will benefit so many families connected to Daisy.
“Barbara [Kennedy] has done a wonderful job, organising collection of the hampers. The Christmas period can be incredibly tough for many families, so I’m sure these hampers will make a significant difference to those in need over the festive period.”
Dowie, Liverpool FC Women ambassador added: “The whole LFC family is fantastic at coming together to help those in need and Operation Christmas Magic is another example of this at this special time of year.”
Forbes Duff, LFC Foundation’s head of community engagement, added: “We know the Christmas period can be incredibly tough for many families across the Liverpool City Region and food poverty continues to be a growing issue.
“We hope that these fresh food hampers go some way to making this festive period a little brighter for those in need and we are pleased we have been able to deliver over 2,000 hampers once again this year.”
Other Operation Christmas Magic activities that took place throughout December, delivered by LFC Foundation and its Red Neighbours team, included free Christmas community lunches at Anfield for more than 800 local people, festive foodbank collections at all home fixtures, support for Hits Radio’s ‘Cash for Kids Mission Christmas’ campaign and the annual visits from members of both the men’s and women’s teams to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.
There has also been a special carol service at Anfield and plenty of Christmas celebrations across LFC Foundation sessions for participants and their families.
