Morley Town AFC deliver Christmas lunches to primary schools in Morley

Footballers from Morley Town AFC have been delivering food hampers and Christmas lunches to children over the festive season.
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It follows their efforts in the second lockdown which saw them run, walk and cycle a total of 1,532 miles to raise money to provide children with meals during the holidays, inspired by Marcus Rashford’s free school meals campaign.

After this success, team manager Kevin Mackay decided to continue their work and organised food to be delivered to primary schools in Morley.

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Kevin, 34, from Morley, said: “We ran the miles in lockdown to raise money to give Christmas food hampers to children in primary schools who needed support.

Morley Town AFC management and players with the food parcels to be distributed. (left to right): Craig Wood, Lee Kioseff, Robert Wheelhouse, Kevin Mackay of Rethink Food, James Wheelhouse, Matthew Agar, Neil Holdsworth, Noel Bullock and Sat Mann of Lean LunchMorley Town AFC management and players with the food parcels to be distributed. (left to right): Craig Wood, Lee Kioseff, Robert Wheelhouse, Kevin Mackay of Rethink Food, James Wheelhouse, Matthew Agar, Neil Holdsworth, Noel Bullock and Sat Mann of Lean Lunch
Morley Town AFC management and players with the food parcels to be distributed. (left to right): Craig Wood, Lee Kioseff, Robert Wheelhouse, Kevin Mackay of Rethink Food, James Wheelhouse, Matthew Agar, Neil Holdsworth, Noel Bullock and Sat Mann of Lean Lunch

"Then we decided to do something similar, so this morning we’ve been out delivering food hampers for families in need.

“Two of the team members were out delivering to the schools on Monday, and nine of us will be out today from Morley Town AFC.

"In total there have been about 12 people from the club who have volunteered.”

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The football team has been working with several primary schools in Morley and the surrounding areas and has teamed up with organisations Rethink Food and Lean Lunch.

Kevin is the co-founder of Rethink Food, and they aim to educate people about food and to help child hunger in Leeds.

Kevin, a former Morley primary school teacher, said: “I think it’s something that’s very needed at this time, it’s been a tough year for everyone but especially for the families that we hope this benefits.

“It’s important for us local lads to see our work benefiting local families in our communities, and so far the feedback from the schools has been amazing.

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"We hope it provides that little bit of support that can go a long way at this time of the year.”

The football team’s original charity run raised over £2,000, and the team attributes most of their success to the residents in Morley and hopes their food drive will be just as successful.

Kevin added: “The positivity around what we do and the club has been great.

"The lads have really enjoyed doing it, and it’s given them a sense of purpose in lockdown, and now we can again give back to our local community.

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“To see the benefit as it goes back into the schools is amazing, it’s definitely something we will do again in the future, and to get to partner up with Rethink Food and Lean Lunch has meant we’ve brought together two amazing Leeds organisations as well as the club.”

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