The first major donation of food has arrived at Pride Park Stadium as part of Derby County’s ‘Stay Safe. Stay Fit. Stay Connected.’ project to help the city’s Covid-19 relief effort.
Part of the £5,000 food order was delivered to the drop-off point in the Fans Park before being distributed across the city’s 10 food hubs, from where it will be delivered to those who most need it.
The project launched earlier this month, after being passionately backed by Derby County manager Phillip Cocu, and food donations to it are being funded by the manager, directors, the first-team coaching staff, players and other senior staff.
In addition, more than 60 staff from the club and Derby County Community Trust have volunteered to help oversee the running of the drop-off zone and help with deliveries.
Moreover,at the same time that the donations were being delivered, food and drink in the stadium’s concourse kiosks was donated to the project by ClubDCFC.
Simon Carnall, Head of Community at Derby County Community Trust, which is spearheading the ‘Stay Safe’ element of the project, said: “This is the first of an ongoing commitment to donate food to the relief effort. We are doing everything we can through a range of activities to support the communities we serve and this sizeable donation will help ensure food gets to those who most need it.
“It’s also really heart-warming to see so many from the club and Community Trust come forward to volunteer at this time of need. Everyone’s pulling together and doing what they can to help the wider relief effort.”
The club has provided space to set up the food drop-off point in the Fans Park at Pride Park Stadium, in partnership with the Derby Food Forum network and Derby County Community Trust, to collect donations from the public. It is open every Monday and Thursday between 10am-2pm.
Food from the drop-off point at Pride Park Stadium is being provided to food hubs opening across the city, all run by the Derby Food Forum network as part of the Derby Covid Community response Hub, to ensure the demand for food parcels can be met across the local community.