CELTIC fans proudly honoured the legacy of Brother Walfrid last night as the pre-match supporter-led food drive proved to be a remarkable success.
Thanks to the generosity of the Celtic support, an estimated £30,000 worth of food was collected and distributed as well as a total of just over £3,000 raised from cash donations, with proceeds being split between local Foodbanks and Celtic FC Foundation’s upcoming Brother Walfrid commemoration lunch for the city’s homeless community.*
The collection was held on The Celtic Way in advance of the SPFL game versus Kilmarnock with supporters invited to bring various food items to support local Foodbanks.
With the statue of Brother Walfrid looking on, the Celtic support gathered en masse to donate an incredible amount of money and food, heeding the call to support those less fortunate and honour Celtic’s founding principles of benevolence, selflessness and charity.
In addition to contributions from supporters, Celtic manager Ronny Deila and Club Captain Scott Brown both showed their support by symbolically placing their donations in front of the statue of Brother Walfrid.
Celtic Chief Executive Peter Lawwell said: “This week as we remember our Founding Father, Brother Walfrid, 100 years after his death, we are marking it in the best way possible. The collection for the Foodbanks at last night’s match was a fitting tribute to his memory.
“Our charitable work is hugely important to us and we are delighted to carry on the ethos of Brother Walfrid through Celtic FC Foundation. We are enormously proud of what the supporters, the Club and the Foundation have done. This is a special club with very special supporters.”
Speaking on behalf of the supporter-led initiative, one of the organisers, Jim Blyth, said: “Celtic fans once again showed their commitment to the most needy in our society. Under the banner of Brother Walfrid’s Legacy, they supported the Foodbank appeal in huge numbers and in turn supported some of our most marginalised citizens.
“The unity of purpose was something to behold as the scale of the donations became ever larger and yet there was also a feeling of disbelief that in 100 years since Brother Walfrid’s passing we are once again unable to feed all of our citizens without the need for repeated acts of charity. Celtic fans, though, will not be found wanting when it comes to supporting those in their communities in need.
“We are very proud to have supported community groups in Coatbridge, Drumchapel, Govan, Castlemilk, Balornock, and Gorbals amongst others and also those who work with refugee groups in our communities. The collection also shows the effectiveness of fans’ groups, the Foundation and the Club working closely together.”
Celtic FC Foundation CEO, Tony Hamilton, added: “Sincere thanks to everyone who played a part in this. Celtic is indeed a unique football club and it has shown this again with such a phenomenal collection of food. It’s great that the Club, its supporters and the charitable arm – Celtic FC Foundation – can work hard to make such a difference to people’s lives.
“Special thanks must go to all of the supporters’ representatives and the individuals who helped in the organisation of this event.”
The collection was backed by a multitude of Celtic fans’ groups and forums and Celtic Football Club and Celtic FC Foundation would like to extend their gratitude to the following:
Affiliation Of Registered Celtic Supporters’ Clubs, AICSC, Celtic Graves Society, Celtic-Minded, CQN, Celtic Supporters’ Association, Celtic Trust, Celtic Underground, Etims, Hail Hail Media, Green Brigade, Huddleboard, The Kano Foundation and Kerrydale Street.
*This Friday at Celtic Park, on the anniversary of Brother Walfrid’s death, Celtic FC and Celtic FC Foundation will be hosting a lunch for 500 individuals from the city’s homeless community in the Number 7 Restaurant in Celtic Park.
