Liverpool FC legend Robbie Fowler has been thanked for a 'magnificent gesture' to help tackle hunger and poverty in the city.
The former Reds star has donated a total of £18,000 to the Fans Supporting Foodbanks team. The money will help to fund food pantries across the city and a pilot for a community kitchen.
Fans Supporting Foodbanks, set up by current West Derby MP Ian Byrne and his friends Dave Kelly and Robbie Daniels, is well known for its food collections before Liverpool and Everton games. The group have also set up a number of food pantries around the city, where people who are struggling with food costs can get cheaper items.
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The donation from Fowler will help to fund the pantries, which will be more needed than ever as the cost of living bites. The cash will also help to pilot Mr Byrne's community kitchen pilot. For a week in October, St Celia's Junior School in Tuebrook will take part in the trial.
Mr Byrne, who has led the campaign for a Right to Food to be enshrined in law, said: "It’s the community kitchen element of our Right to Food campaign brought to life to give people a warm meal and warm place to break bread with families and friends in dignity." If it is successful it is hoped a wider 'Scouse Kitchen' project could be rolled out across the city.
Speaking about Robbie Fowler's donation, Mr Byrne added: "In a time of grave struggle for so many and on the day the Tories prioritise cutting benefits to fund tax cuts for the super rich, Robbie shows once again he is on the side of the many struggling in our city with this magnificent gesture."
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