Walsall Supporters Alliance raising money to feed families at Christmas

Walsall Supporters for Change – who have now been renamed as Walsall Supporters Alliance – has joined forces with volunteer group Walsall Outreach for the fundraising mission.

The aim is to raise enough money to provide Christmas dinners to 70 families in the Walsall area on Christmas Day.

Project lead for Walsall Outreach, Maz Surti, said: “Since the pandemic started, we changed our service from serving two hot meals a week from a town centre location to delivering food parcels, hot meals and Sunday lunches for the elderly.

"This year has been incredibly challenging and rewarding for us. We have now sent out over 3,000 food parcels to families and individuals since the pandemic began. We have been delivering 70 hot meals every Friday for the last 6 months. We cook and deliver Sunday lunches to 15 elderly residents.

"We are now planning our Christmas appeal and we would like to support 70 families with a Christmas dinner on Christmas Day. This will include the elderly, families and children who are all struggling this Christmas.

"The lunches would cost approximately £300 and we are asking for donations to help us raise funds to bring joy to the lives of families across Walsall this Christmas.”

Rob Harvey, Chairman of Walsall Supporters Alliance added: “Our local area is very important to us and as part of our organisation’s purpose we aim to help the local community wherever we possibly can and this is a great way to help at what can be such a lonely time of year for some people.

"If we can help bring some joy to these people at Christmas at least, we will be very happy. We call on the supporters of Walsall Football Club to donate to the cause if they can, with all donations massively appreciated both by ourselves and Walsall Outreach. Any funds raised over £300 will go towards further meals provided by Walsall Outreach after Christmas.”

People can donate by contacting the Alliance by email at hello@thewsa.org.uk with the subject line ‘Christmas Dinner’.

Meanwhile, this comes as the group changes their name from Walsall Supporters for Change to Walsall Supporters Alliance.

The group, which formed in early 2019, was originally set up to ask questions of the club's hierarchy and seek change in areas where fans were unhappy.

Now, in a statement by the group, they have given their full support to chairman Leigh Pomlett.

It read: "Moving forward we no longer look to demand much needed change, but to work in unison and alliance with all those who care for Walsall Football Club in what, even in these testing times, promises to be a progressive and prosperous era."