‘So incredibly generous’ - Community trust donates thousands of items to Oldham charities

OACT has delivered more than 13,500 food items as part of their Christmas appeal (Credit - OACT)

A COMMUNITY trust in Oldham has raised over 13,500 food items for charity through the launch of a new Christmas appeal.

The Food for Thought Christmas Appeal was launched by Oldham Athletic Community Trust (OACT) on November 10, with the aim of providing an initial 1,250 essential food items to those in need over the festive period to coincide with the football club’s 125th-year anniversary.

Oldham Athletic first team players donate items at training (Credit - OACT/Twitter)

That number has since increased by over ten times with items being supplied to and distributed by eight regional partners, including Oldham Foodbank.

Callum Irving, Communications Executive at OACT said: “A lot of people are going hungry, lost their jobs and money so we’re doing our bit to help in a way that we can support the community.”

“Oldham Athletic are the town’s only professional football club and I think sometimes you need to support your town because the town supports the club,” added Martin Vose, the Trust’s Head of Community.

“There’s also the sense of that this could be you, we’re all one paycheque away and may need some help in the future.

“If you can help people now then hopefully people will be there to help you.”

One organisation who are already benefitting from the initiative is Oldham Foodbank, who since the first national lockdown in March, has had to acquire a second warehouse to cope with increased demand.

At the time of writing, the charity has fed almost 14,000 people across the area in that time, a 60% increase on the entire of 2019 where they fed 8,500.

Father Tom Davis, the Foodbank’s Chair of Trustees, said the initiative has been extremely helpful so far: “The one thing that has come out of this is that it’s true that in poorer areas, like Oldham, people are so incredibly generous.

“Their generosity and kindness, you couldn’t put a price on that. Especially coming from the younger guys so far, that’s incredible in this day and age.”

For more information about the Food for Thought Christmas Appeal, contact OACT via Twitter or enquiries@oact.org.uk.