The more funding which can be added to the initial three-year project, the more people in Wolverhampton will be helped, and the original £500,000 investment in January has been increased by almost £80,000 raised via the efforts of the Molineux fanbase.
This has been raised thanks to a variety of fundraising drives, including virtual ticket sales for the home game with Liverpool, donations via Just Giving and the setting up of regular direct debits, a Silent Auction thanks to the D&G Group, shirt sales from the Feed Our Pack fixture and also numerous individual efforts from Wolves supporters.
“The response from the fans since Food Our Pack was officially launched at the start of the year has been incredible,” says Demi Grundy, the Foundation’s communications and fundraising manager.
“We know everyone has had such a difficult and challenging time over the last year, but to see people being so keen to come forward and help those in our communities who have suffered most has been a real inspiration.
“Supporters have been so creative with their fundraising ideas, especially considering restrictions in place during lockdown, and it has made such a positive difference to Feed Our Pack in the first few months of the campaign.
“We are aware that there will unfortunately be people who will continue to struggle financially as we hopefully come out of the pandemic. and that is where we hope Feed Our Pack will be able to continue to work with the City of Wolverhampton Council and other partner organisations to have a positive impact in the local community.”
Feed Our Pack has already delivered two extensive initiatives to combat Holiday Hunger, with a total of over 14,000 meals distributed across last Christmas and this February and Easter school holidays.
These initiatives are set to continue during every school holiday, and the Foundation are also now working with local Foodbanks to see how best they can help fill any gaps with supplies.
“Feed Our Pack is already proving to be an extremely worthwhile project in having a positive impact on people across Wolverhampton, and we are now building relationships with several foodbanks in the city and starting to provide them with additional support,” says food poverty project manager Ollie Locker.
“Wolves supporters and all the different charities and agencies within the city have been really engaged with the project which makes a real difference, and we are looking forward to continuing to work together to ensure no one in Wolverhampton is going hungry during such a challenging time.”
Feed Our Pack is also about more than just food, with efforts made to bridge the digital gap within the city by distributing laptops and other devices to children identified by the Foundation’s partner schools as not being able to connect at home.
And Official Wolves Mascots have also made a donation of 250 Wolves kits which were distributed to children across the city.
The original investment for Feed Our Pack came via a £250,000 donation from the Premier League & PFA Community Fund which was then matched by now departed Wolves Head Coach, Nuno Espirito Santo.
That gave a kick start to the campaign from which it is hoped fundraising will help continue to drive it forward over the coming years, to provide sustained and long-term support to people who need it most.
As Feed Our Pack continues to develop, there will be other ways for supporters to play their part including food donations on matchdays and potential volunteering opportunities.
Click here to read more about Feed Our Pack and how you can add your support.
