Barnes Collection Caused Food Bank Convoy
Before Easter, Barnes RFC decided to try to gather a tonne, or 1000kgs, of food for The Trussell Trust food bank in Kingston-on-Thames to help those most in need.
Said club Chairman, Michael Whitfield: “We launched #FullofBeans hoping to fill up maybe one car but ended up with 2.7 tonnes of food, over 6000 tins, which completely filled six 4x4s and a builder’s van! We also received over £450 in cash from people unable to drop off items in person.
“The look of joy on people’s faces as they came to drop off their donations was extraordinary, and their grins grew even wider as they saw people they knew from the club, in many cases for the first time in a year.
“People stood respectfully in small groups, socially distanced, of course. They beamed as they chatted away, before moving on and allowing the next group of donors to take their place. That’s rugby for you, that’s the club we all love in action.”
Barnes hit the headlines last year when they raised a staggering £160,000 for the NHS in memory of Garry Garett, a much loved player’s father and club supporter who was lost to Covid-19. That spirit is still very much part of the club’s desire to carry on making a difference.
“I’m humbled by the generosity of Barnes RFC members,” said Michael. “As we plan various other initiatives this year to continue to help them and the wider Barnes community, it was brilliant seeing everyone doing their bit, and the volume of food collected astonished us all.”
