The Sunderland AFC first team, Academy players and club staff will support two local charities this Christmas through their ‘Bring a Tin’ campaign.
Created by Sunderland AFC, ‘Bring a Tin’ will see the club collect and donate non-perishable goods to local charities, St Mary’s Church and Centre Point Sunderland, to help the homeless and those in need this Christmas.
The Wearsiders are asking fans to support the campaign and from Monday 11th until Wednesday 20th December special ‘Bring a Tin’ wheelie bins, which have been donated by O’Brien’s Waste Recycling Solutions, will be available in the SAFC Ticket Office for people to deposit tinned food and other non-perishables into. The ‘Bring a Tin’ bins will also be located at various points around the Stadium of Light when the Wearsiders take on Fulham in the Sky Bet Championship on 16th December.
Sunderland AFC chief executive Martin Bain said “Christmas should be a time for family and friends; for warmth and celebration. Yet for many it can be one of the hardest periods of the year. Sunderland AFC and our fans can make a difference to our community. It is important that we come together to donate much needed goods to those who will benefit from them.”
Father Marc Smith, SAFC chaplain and Priest at St Mary’s Church said: “Every year lots of people from across Sunderland gather together in St. Mary’s on Christmas Day for a free lunch and company for anyone in need. Not only is there a terrific sense of community, but also a real sense of Christmas. I’m delighted that this year Sunderland AFC have got involved. The club is the heartbeat of the city, and this year they have brought life, energy and compassion to our Christmas Day lunch.”
Amy Appleton, senior fundraising officer at Centrepoint said: “Youth homelessness is a huge issue across the country - we estimate that 16,000 young people will be homeless this Christmas. We’re so grateful for the support we’ve received from Sunderland AFC over the years, and we’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who chooses to donate this year. Your generosity will help make sure homeless young people in Sunderland don’t go hungry this Christmas.”
If you would like to donate some non-perishable items to the Bring a Tin campaign, you can help by donating any of the following items:
- Tins of food
- Gloves
- Socks
- Toothpaste / toothbrush
- Deodorants
- Shower gel
- Shampoo
- Sweets, biscuits, chocolate
- Hot drink sachets
- Cup-a-soups / Pot Noodles
- Dried pasta
- Cereals
- Rice
Many homeless people have dogs as companions, so fans can also to donate tinned dog food, treats, blankets and bowls as part of the ‘Bring a Tin’ collection.