Derby County Community Trust is hosting several events to help many vulnerable individuals and families in need across the city this Christmas.

As part of the partnership between the Community Trust and Derby Food 4 Thought Alliance (who distribute food across eleven city food banks), the Community Trust and Derby County Football Club are working together to increase donations at this traditionally busiest time of year.

The Community Trust and Club are encouraging Rams supporters to help their fellow city residents this Christmas by contributing to the city’s food banks which need £50,000 worth of donations over the festive period, with at least 1,000 requests for full food parcels comprising of twenty-five items used to make up a festive family meal.

Christmas Food Parcel Items

Those who are able to donate a full food parcel to the ‘Support Our City’ campaign will receive a pair of complimentary tickets to Derby’s home match against West Bromwich Albion on Monday 27th December as a simple but nevertheless sincere “Thank You” from the Community Trust and Club.

Supporters who kindly donate single items are asked to select them from the wish list, so that they can be made into full parcels for distribution.

Donation points will be held at the following dates, times, and locations:

• 11am-2pm, 2nd December - Community Trust office (14 Pride Point Drive, DE24 8BX)
• 11am-2pm, 9th December - Pride Park Stadium, Main Reception
• 1pm-3pm, 11th December - Pride Park Stadium, outside the DCFC Megastore and Mini-store

The Smith Partnership is also supporting the campaign by encouraging local businesses to support the city food banks over the festive period.

The Club will also be gifting a number of limited-edition shirts to be distributed as Christmas gifts, and supporters wishing to donate any gifts themselves should contact the Salvation Army directly.

These gifts will be wrapped by the Community Trust’s Extra Time Hub participant during their festive sessions, which provide opportunities for seniors to socialise.

Over the next few weeks, the Community Trust will also be hosting festive meals for those who may not have any family or friends, including seniors, those living with dementia and those overcoming drug and alcohol addiction. And there’ll be a special musical celebration featuring the Salvation Army Brass Band outside the Pride Park Stadium main entrance at Derby’s home match against Blackpool on Saturday 11th December.

And to further help families in need across Derby to enjoy their festive holiday, the Community Trust will also be running Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) camps for children in receipt of free school meals.

And don’t forget…supporters are also able to help fund the Community Trust’s Sensory Room through the 1884 Wall initiative with spaces still available up to Christmas for last minute stocking fillers!

Thank you from everyone at the Community Trust and Club for helping to Support Our City.