Eastleigh Football Club is proud to announce a partnership with Eastleigh Basics Bank, a local charity dedicated to providing food and essential resources to families in need throughout the community.

Through this collaboration, Eastleigh FC is committed to leveraging its platform and resources to support residents facing food insecurity and financial hardship.

As part of this partnership, Eastleigh FC will be hosting donation drives, organising community events, and raising awareness about the growing need for food and supplies in the area. Fans, players, and staff will be encouraged to participate by donating non-perishable food items, toiletries, and other essentials that can be distributed through Eastleigh Basics Bank to families and individuals struggling to make ends meet.

Josh Nace, Community Officer of Eastleigh FC, said: “Eastleigh Football Club has always been about more than football, playing an active role in benefiting our local community is vital to everyone at Eastleigh FC.

“We’re a part of a tight knit community, and it’s our responsibility to step up and support our neighbors in times of need. By working with Eastleigh Basics Bank, we’re aiming to provide assistance to those who need it most and spread a message of hope and solidarity.”

Eastleigh Basics Bank, which has seen a significant rise in demand over recent years, provides a vital safety net for residents experiencing hardship. Eastleigh Basics Bank sees over 8,000 people a year in need of support. The organization offers food parcels and other essentials to families and individuals in crisis, helping to ensure they do not go hungry or without basic necessities. If everyone in the Borough donated only one tin each month, they would have more than enough to provide and support those that need it. The partnership with Eastleigh FC will enable the Basics Bank to reach a wider audience, encouraging more community members to contribute and lend a helping hand.

“We’re thrilled to partner with Eastleigh FC, a club that truly cares about making a positive difference in the community,” said Dave Keating, Events Co-Ordinator of Eastleigh Basics Bank.

“This collaboration will allow us to continue our mission of supporting vulnerable families and provide a sense of stability for those going through difficult times.”

Throughout the upcoming season, Eastleigh FC will host a series of Pickup Dates where in the lead up to the date, fans can bring food and essential item donations to the club shop donation box in the stadium on matchdays and weekdays; as of Thursday 7th November 2024.

Players, Officials and staff will drop items to the foodbank on the designated drop off days.

Additionally, the club will be involved in organising volunteers to help, and team members will participate in various charity events aimed at boosting support for the Basics Bank’s efforts.

The club invites all fans and members of the Eastleigh community to join them in this initiative, whether by making a donation, volunteering, or simply spreading the word. Every contribution, big or small, will go a long way in helping Eastleigh Basics Bank fulfill its mission of alleviating food poverty in the region.

For more information about Eastleigh FC’s partnership with Eastleigh Basics Bank, please visit https://eastleighbasicsbank.co.uk/

A list of items can be found below:

– Tinned fish – tuna, sardines, mackerel etc
– Tinned meat meals – curry, hot dogs, chilli con carne, ravioli, mince, stew, Fray Bentos pies etc
– Corned beef
– Tinned ham
– Tinned potatoes
– Tinned vegetables
– Dried spaghetti
– Tinned spaghetti
– Kidney beans
– Soup
– Instant noodles & pasta
– Cook in sauces
– Long grain rice – not the microwaveable type please
– Tinned fruit – peaches, fruit cocktail, pineapples etc
– Desserts – rice pudding, custard, jelly, Angel Delight, sponge puddings etc.
– Jam, marmalade, peanut butter, honey etc
– Milk (long-life)
– Pasta
– Cereal
– Porridge – traditional and instant
– Biscuits
– Tea
– Coffee
– Hot Chocolate
– Soft drinks – squash, long life juice, fizzy drinks etc.
– Soap / handwash
– Shampoo
– Shower gel
– Toothpaste
– Toothbrushes
– Deodorant – men’s and women’s
– Tampons
– Nappies – size 5 and upwards
– Disposable razors
– Washing up liquid
– Toilet rolls
– Laundry tablets
– Dog food – tinned and dried