Preston North End launch 'Helping Hampers' project to help the elderly and vulnerable

North End and the PNE Community and Educational Trust will put together hampers containing food, puzzle books and exercise sheets in order to keep receipiants healthy and active at home.

They will be delivered to the vulnerable who use the Trust's community programmes and others in the Preston area.

The campaign is dependent on generous donations from the general public, in order to fund the provision of essential items and the delivery of these to recipients of the hampers.

North End's first-team squad and management have already made donations to the campaign and hope the Preston public will join them.

The Trust’s head of community Tom Drake said: "We understand that this is a challenging time for so many people for a whole number of reasons, however, no-one should have to struggle, so we want to reach out to the elderly and vulnerable to provide them with essential items and engaging materials while at home.

"Hampers will contain a variety of items to ensure people remain well stocked for food and have plenty to keep them occupied at home over the coming weeks.

"To have the support of the football club too is fantastic.

"We pride ourselves on being a community club and providing for the community’s needs at this time and I would like to thank manager Alex Neil and the players for their support with this initiative.

“We hope that we can rely on our fantastic fan base and the wider Preston community to help us to deliver the project, providing genuinely vital support under the current circumstances due to the coronavirus.”

PNE's finance director Kevin Abbott said: "As the local football club, we have a massive reach to people in the local area and we want to use that to support the most vulnerable in society at this unprecedented time of need.

"Preston North End is a community club with proud family values and at a serious time of need such as this, we will do as much we can to help our supporters, particularly the elderly and the most vulnerable, as well as others in need in our local area."

Fans can donate to the Helping Hampers cause by visiting https://justgiving.com/campaign/PNECETHelpingHampers and making an online donation.

Both the club and the Trust are appreciative of whatever level of support fans can provide, no matter how great or small.

If you know someone in need of a helping hamper, please contact [email protected].