Staff from Leeds Rhinos Foundation have been volunteering with organisations across Leeds to support some of the most vulnerable people in the community during the COVID-19 crisis.
Each week staff have been helping to make sure that people who are in need in different areas of the city, get the food packages and other essentials, during the lockdown period when many vulnerable people, including the elderly, people with disabilities and those with serious illnesses are unable to leave their homes.
Using the Leeds Rhinos Foundation mini bus, which is supplied by Global, staff have been able to distribute food from foodbanks to local charities and schools.
Dan Busfield, Head of Partnerships and Development at Leeds Rhinos Foundation said: “This is an incredibly difficult time for people and in particular those who are the most vulnerable in our society. As a charity we are committed to helping people in need and in these challenging times that commitment remains. Unfortunately, we are unable to deliver our normal projects in the community so we wanted to find a way that we could do something to help people in these unprecedented times.
“We have been working with a number of charities in Leeds who are doing some incredible things and it’s been really heartwarming to see the collaborative effort from many organisations to support some of the most needy in our community.”
Some of the charities that Leeds Rhinos Foundation has been supporting are the New Wortley Community Centre, St George’s Crypt, Community Integrated Trust, Real Junk Food and Leeds Food Aid Network who are all sourcing food for local people. Staff have also been working with Mecca Bingo in Leeds who are providing hot meals for homeless people and schools.
Sam Horner, Community Clubs Development Officer at Leeds Rhinos Foundation, has also been helping to put a smile on people’s faces, with his unique Elvis impersonations when he makes his food deliveries in the community.
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“We have been overwhelmed by the generosity of our staff who have backed us in this ambition by volunteering to help where they can,” added Busfield. “Sam Horner and Helen Schofield have done an amazing job in co-ordinating the volunteering and they have been joined by Harvey Whiteley, Dane Weatherill, Joe Ramsden, Matt Airey, Sam Jackson, Ben Berry, Lois Forsell, Nicola Booth, Tracey Mearns, Ellis Pascall and Gareth Cook from our charity and Steve Burton and James Eaton from Leeds Rhinos.
“It has also been great to have Rhinos legend Brett Delaney, who also works with us, and Leeds Rhinos player Liam Sutcliffe helping us. Liam asked if he could help us and has been brilliant and a huge help and boost for staff and the people who he has visited.”
👏Thank you to @leedsrhinos player @Liam_Sutcliffe for helping out today with @harveywhiteley9 by volunteering to support vulnerable people in our community during #Lockdown with vital food deliveries.#ChangingLivesThroughSport pic.twitter.com/1tK08yUhGk
— Leeds Rhinos Foundation (@RugbyLeeds) May 6, 2020