Our Head Coach Mark Robinson last night urged all Dons fans to help fight food poverty when they come to Plough Lane for home matches.
Robbo is backing a new initiative that will see food collection points opening at every entrance into our new stadium.
The scheme kicks off on Saturday for our game against Oxford and will then continue at every home Saturday match throughout the season. Masterminded by our award-winning Dons Local Action Group (DLAG), fans will be able to drop off tinned supplies - with an urgent need for tinned meat, tinned vegetables, tinned fish, tinned fruit, and tinned pulses.
Robbo, who is pictured volunteering during the early days of lockdown, said: "DLAG is part of what makes AFC Wimbledon special. I couldn’t be happier that this idea is getting off the ground. Please do all you can to make it a resounding success. We’ll all be getting involved.”
So far this year, DLAG has delivered an incredible 32,500 food boxes to families throughout Merton, Wandsworth and Kingston. One box is big enough to supply one person with 21 meals for one week.
That is £927,000 of food - or 402 metric tonnes - and co-founder Xavier Wiggins said: "We would like fans to see contributing food at the entrance as part of the match day ritual. They could make such a difference to stock levels and the support we can offer. Each box we supply provides 21 meals for one person."
The Dons Trust co-chair added: "It is ridiculous to think that food poverty should exist so close to us and on such a scale, but it is exciting to know that we can all do something about it, so please do all you can.
“We encourage both home and away fans to be involved and to demonstrate simply how brilliant the football community can be.”
Our Chief Executive Joe Palmer added: “The work of DLAG since last March has been phenomenal. We have players, managers and fans volunteering and we have been discussing ramping up the support we offer. This exciting initiative is part of that. We are so proud of the volunteers and all they have done.”
The Dons Local Action Group is always looking for volunteers. To enquire about opportunities please visit www.donslocalaction.org