Maidstone United fill food bank for Christmas surge

They donated supplies to support those who couldn't afford essentials this holiday season. Henry Luck reports.

Transcript

00:00From shooting goals to saving people from hunger, Maidstone United Football Club have raised money from their first home team game,

00:10all for one big donation of food, supplies and toys for families who are struggling during the cost of living crisis,

00:19especially with the festive season once again upon us.

00:23Obviously with it being Christmas, a lot of people are struggling and we wanted to make a difference in our community

00:29and try and help out anyone that possibly could not have a good Christmas.

00:34Making it a little bit better by making sure there's plenty of food,

00:38because obviously food can be the big difference between a happy Christmas and a not so happy Christmas.

00:46The Trinity Church Foodbank has seen more than 120 people book for collection on the week of Christmas,

00:55when it usually sees around 90 to 95 users turn up at their doors.

01:02We've got about 120 people coming today who are desperately in need of food

01:07and the donation from Maidstone Stones in the community has just been incredible.

01:14All that vegetables and all the tin stuff and what's really good is we've got loads of festive gifts as well,

01:21which we don't normally have nice gifts to give away, so that's fantastic.

01:25Thanks to their fundraiser, Maidstone United Football Club managed to raise around £800.

01:33It's a tough time over Christmas, so the more help that we could give the better it's going to be

01:40and like I say, I'm very proud of their group, not only the academy but the football club,

01:45I think the football club plus our little £125 money to raise over £800 this weekend,

01:50so very well done to everyone at the club.

01:53Thanks to Maidstone United's food drive, it's let families in the area get food and items

02:00that would have been otherwise too expensive, like fresh fruit and vegetables, like peppers.

02:07With more families making the choice between heating or eating,

02:12Maidstone United Football Club are letting the public know that they're in their corner.

02:18Henry Luck in Maidstone.