Tranmere Rovers Super White Christmas Appeal has yet again proven to be a huge success with many people within the community positively impacted in various ways.
The Super White Christmas Appeal has been the main community initiative for the past two months, as we prepared to help support those in need during the holiday period.
With funds raised of more than £10,000 and hundreds of food donations, this week we have been able to deliver food hampers to 250 people, more than 100 elderly people and provide nearly 450 free school meals.
Eileen, who works at Co-op Academy Portland, located only minutes away from Prenton Park, said: “The donations will go really far. We have had lots of families on the phone already really upset not knowing how they are going to cope over Christmas. Even with the free school meals, it doesn’t accommodate what they’re going to do for more than two weeks off.
“We have a lot of big families with older children as well, so it will be a massive help to them.
“A lot of our children support Tranmere Rovers, and it is nice to see the football club is so engaged with the local community. We have always had a lot to do with Tranmere, the footballers have paid visits in the past, our children have attended matches and it is nice for them to see how much Tranmere does for them and they appreciate it.
“This appeal has had a massive impact, but not only at Christmas, the work Tranmere do all year round, they are very supportive.
“It is important each and every year that communities come together but this year in particular, it has been such a strange year for everyone and it is important we come together to help support all the families in need that we can.”
This year marks the fourth in which Tranmere Rovers Community Trust, alongside key partners and supporters’ groups, have ran the Super White Christmas Appeal.
Due to Covid-19, we have had to make alterations but the effect the appeal will have in the coming weeks will be just as positive. For instance, we have also supplied 30 hampers and gifts to care workers and hosted a dementia session following Government guidance for ten people, all of those supplied with food hampers.
Simon, a volunteer who has helped with packing and distribution of food hampers, said: “
It has been a very difficult year for many people, not only for those not working but those who are working too, for example, if they have been on furlough.
During the first lockdown, we were doing hampers and we were taking them to different people every day and this time of year, it has really heightened. The troubles people have had for nearly 12 months, people are short of money and the hampers we can provide might bring them some Christmas cheer.
I have a spare few hours, so I wanted to put that time to good use and help. The way I look at it is, it is not what your community can do for you, it is what you can do for your community and that makes the huge difference.”
Ben Harrison, Associate Director at Tranmere Rovers, added: “The Trust and the Club have had a busy last few weeks accepting donations both food and cash and organising the packing and delivery of over 400 Christmas Hampers.
“What makes it all worthwhile is the many, many thank yous from schools, families and elderly people who are struggling this time of year.
Also a massive thanks goes to all of our brilliant fans for their donations, you don’t realise how much this means to the people who we have been able to help.”