Turf Moor welcomed 1,500 young adults from 24 countries to take part in a powerful, large-scale food drive supporting the local foodbank, made possible by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Thanks to the incredible efforts of our partners, volunteers and staff, the day will make a lasting difference for families across Burnley and Lancashire.
Local Support on a Remarkable Scale
On Saturday 30th May, 1,500 young adults from across Europe paid a visit to Turf Moor and working in teams across the stadium, packed food parcels for the foodbank, helping to provide an estimated six months of essential supplies for local individuals and families. Alongside this, more than 1,500 hygiene kits containing toiletries and personal care essentials were prepared for SafeNet and Lancashire Women, supporting women and children facing difficult circumstances across the region.
The project was coordinated and funded by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, whose annual Europe Young Adult Conference brought participants aged 18 to 35 to Burnley for a multi-day programme centred on worship, learning, friendship and service.
Supporting Local People Across Burnley and Lancashire
Oliver Ryan, Member of Parliament for Burnley, visited the service project during the day to meet volunteers from across Europe and see first-hand the scale of the effort taking place throughout Turf Moor. Reflecting on the experience, he said:
“I was genuinely blown away by the work these young people carried out here in Burnley. To see young people from 24 countries come into the heart of our community and support organisations like Lancashire Women, SafeNet and Burnley FC in the Community was remarkable. A huge thank you to everyone who helped organise the project. But most importantly, thank you to the young people who gave up their weekend to be here. The work you’ve done will make a real difference to people’s lives.”
Helen Gurman, CEO of Burnley FC in the Community, said: “We were delighted to welcome so many young adults from across Europe to Turf Moor and to see the incredible energy and commitment they brought to serving others. The scale of what was achieved in just one day is remarkable and will make a real difference to individuals and families across Burnley and Lancashire who rely on our foodbank services. Partnerships like this demonstrate the power of communities coming together to support others, and we are grateful to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and every volunteer who contributed their time and effort.”
Elder Mark Dundon, an Area Seventy in the United Kingdom, added: “One of our goals in bringing these young adults together was to give them a chance to be the answer to someone else’s prayer. We wanted them to feel that every item they packed would then go on to reach a person in need. We believe that is the spirit of the ministry and gospel of Jesus Christ.” He added: “We hope that this spirit will inspire these young people to serve in their own communities with love, regardless of nationality, faith, or background.”
Thank You to Everyone Who Made It Happen
A number of organisations went above and beyond to help make the event possible. Birchall Foodservice generously offered their services and collected 28 pallets free of charge to transport items to the storage unit.
EFS Logistics also provided valued support by collecting 18 pallets and transporting them to the foodbank
We would also like to thank Albert Harrison and Co, who kindly offered to store all of the parcels free of charge, and Tesco, who donated baskets and trolleys used throughout the packing event. Their practical support made a huge difference to the smooth delivery of the day.
Further thanks go to Option Hygiene for supplying pallet wrap and toiletry bags, and to Cardboard Box Company for supporting the event with parcel boxes. Contributions like these helped ensure we had the resources needed to prepare and package donations efficiently.
We are also grateful to Burnley Football Club for providing the perfect backdrop for such a fantastic food drive and for helping to create a memorable setting for everyone involved.
A sincere thank you goes to all Burnley FC in the Community and club staff who supported the event. From planning and coordination to hands-on help on the day, every contribution played an important part in making the event such a success.
Finally, we are especially grateful to the Church and the many volunteers who gave their time, energy and compassion to support the event and make such a meaningful impact in our community.
To find out how to support the foodbank or get involved with the Charity, pleased contact our Head of Partnerships & Fundraising, Ben Bottomley: b.bottomley@burnleyfc.com