Stafford pack helping with food supplies

The club has opened kitchen facilities at their new £5million Blackberry Lane stadium to assist food bank The House of Bread.

In addition to cooking fresh food, volunteers have been delivering food and other essential items to the homeless, those in social care and the vulnerable.

The team is also picking up food donated by retailers and others for redistribution.

During the recent Easter break, they delivered more than 400 Easter eggs to hospitals, hospices and care homes, along with 100 bunches of flowers to the elderly.

Stafford celebrated the opening of their new stadium back in November, but it has seen no rugby action since the season was cancelled due to the pandemic in March.

Club chiefs were eager to do whatever they could to assist the town’s efforts against the virus.

“The rugby community has stepped up to the mark and has done what we do best, support and help each other when times are hard,” explained commercial director Mark Carter.

“The feedback from the community has been overwhelming and we are proud to do everything we can to help.”

Stafford are among a host of grassroots clubs up and down the country who are doing their bit during the crisis.

“I’m aware of rugby clubs working seven days a week to help,” said RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney.

“Across the country, grassroots clubs are supporting their local communities: the charities, food banks, hospitals, the elderly and the vulnerable.

“It is the values of rugby in action and I want to thank them all.

“I also want to thank all of our club members who are on the front line, all the medics, NHS staff and volunteers and everyone ensuring essential supplies and services remain available.”