Following our Football for Good Fund announcement on Friday, Celtic FC Foundation, supported by Celtic FC, are pushing on with plans to help those most in need in our communities. Many families have been severely affected and need urgent support.
There are also countless vulnerable elderly people, individuals who have been impacted financially, and the homeless community who are suffering to an even greater extent through the COVID-19 crisis.
With Celtic’s Fund now sitting at £175,000, our priority remains putting food on the table, as well as urgent essentials for those most in need.
Given the updated Government advice and guidance around staying at home, through our first phase of action we are working with a variety of local partners to provide urgent food and essentials to those in our communities who are in greatest need.
These include our partners Glasgow North East Foodbank, Golden Generation (for the elderly) and a range of organisations supporting vulnerable children, families and the homeless, such as FARE Scotland, Spirit Aid, The Salvation Army, Action for Children, Help the Homeless and The Wayside Club.
Our support of people in those vulnerable categories has also extended to additional locations in Scotland, England and Ireland, including Edinburgh, London, Dublin and Belfast. And crucially, we are also working with a partner to try and find a way to feed frontline NHS staff in Glasgow.
Celtic Chief Executive, Peter Lawwell, said: “As things have progressed over the course of the last few days, showing support for others is now even more crucial than ever. As a Club with a proud charitable heritage, there’s a real sense of responsibility to do all we can to help those, particularly on our doorstep, who need it most.
“That’s exactly what Celtic FC Foundation strive to do on a daily basis but this current challenge is like one we have never faced before. Therefore, our sense of community is absolutely crucial in this fight.
“As well as following Government guidance to stay at home whenever possible, we will also reach out to NHS frontline staff and those who are most vulnerable through our fantastic partners as we do everything in our power to carry each other through this crisis.”
Tony Hamilton, Chief Executive of Celtic FC Foundation, added: “The situation for many of our neighbours has worsened in the past few days as this crisis has shifted. People are losing income, and with it their ability to feed themselves and their families.
“Our top priority is assisting with that in the communities where we have relationships with existing partner organisations. Thanks to everyone who has made this possible for us. Even in such uncertain and difficult times, the consistency has been the selflessness of the Celtic support who have stepped up to offer assistance when it’s needed.”
