Hibernian Community Foundation signed off for the new year in typical fashion as they went over and above to provide for the Edinburgh and Lothians community on Christmas Day.
While the club’s annual Christmas dinner at Easter Road was cancelled due to the festive Covid-19 restrictions, the Foundation’s good work took on a different form as over 80 meals were delivered by volunteers on the big day.
In addition to the hot food provision, festive hampers were created thanks to donations from supporters in the lead up to Christmas. The hampers were distributed amongst individuals and families in need at what can be an incredibly expensive and worrying time of year for many.
Hibernian Community Foundation CEO Lewis Melee was delighted with the backing received from the club’s supporters in lots of ways throughout November and December.
“There was a huge response to the foodbank collection this year, an even bigger response than we had in 2020 which was absolutely brilliant for us.
“We did a collection at the Motherwell game and had collections at the club stores at Easter Road and the Gyle which brought in a total of 1500 items – with more continuing to come in from the Christmas period.”
With local charities involved in the process of distributing the hampers and demand for support very high, Melee says it was a huge positive that no one had to be turned away.
“Donations from the fans allowed us to fill over 200 hampers for individuals we were seeing on Christmas Day, with school drop offs and families who had been nominated to us from external charities such as Turning Point, Penumbra, Cyrenians also being included in the deliveries.
“It was really pleasing that we didn’t have to turn anyone away this time, in previous years we’ve had too many requests for the hampers but we were able to fulfil everything this year which was brilliant.”
With restrictions on events and indoor gatherings, the Foundation’s annual Christmas dinner at Easter Road was adapted to ensure no one would be left without a hot meal on Christmas Day.
Step forward 20 willing volunteers and the club’s William Bancroft who combined to prepare and deliver meals to everyone who would have otherwise attended the stadium in normal circumstances.
Melee explained: “Normally we would have put on a Christmas dinner at Easter Road for members of the local community who may have been alone on Christmas Day but instead we prepared the meals at the stadium and delivered them to houses across the city.
“Over 80 meals went out to people who may not have seen anybody else on the day or who would not have had that hot meal to enjoy so we were really pleased at the impact it had.”
With a strong team of supporters, family members and willing drivers the Foundation devised a plan to hand deliver the hot meals to the doorsteps of those in need – with a friendly chat and some festive cheer giving everyone something to smile about.
Melee continued: “We had 20 delivery drivers on Christmas Day which was a huge effort at a time when they could have been at home with their own families so a huge thank you goes to them.
“A massive thanks also to William at the football club who headed up the hospitality and food preparation at Easter Road – he had absolutely no hesitation in helping out and providing people with a Christmas meal and he was central to everything we were able to do on the day.”
In addition to the festive food initiatives at the end of the year, the Hibernian Community Foundation Christmas Appeal raised in excess of £4000 which will allow the charity to build on their excellent work as we begin 2022.
Melee is full of gratitude for the goodwill and support the Foundation has received in recent months with lots of lives enhanced as a result of the efforts of everyone involved across the football club and community.
“Everyone really pulled together through our online raffle, donations and the bucket collection ahead of the Rangers game – it’s given us some great ideas looking ahead to next year too.
“A huge thank you to everyone who played their part and to the fans who continue to support us via donations of cash but also through the foodbank donations and volunteer hours which all make what we do possible.
“It’s really rewarding to know that the help we have been able to provide, thanks to the volunteers and supporters, has gone a long way to make the Christmas period a more positive time of year.”
To stay up to date with everything going on at the Hibernian Community Foundation you can follow their progress on Twitter here or visit the website by clicking here.
The East Stand 
1 thought on “Hibernian Community Foundation Deliver Christmas”