Sandbach United Football Club has scored a hat-trick by helping a local food sharing group with donations to bring plenty of festive cheer.

Christmas is often a difficult time for some families who may struggle to make the choice between food or presents. Others may decide to go into the red and start the New Year in debt so they can provide their family with a magical Christmas.

But caring families and players at Sandbach United Football Club have dug deep and delivered some festive cheer for local families.

Liz Clark, Sandbach United Football Club's Diversity and Inclusion Officer, asked for donations for Middlewich & District Foodbank and Sandbach Foodbank. The response this year was amazing, so much so the club needed a white van to deliver the donations.

Sandbach United Football Club has been selected to benefit from Co-op's Local Community Fund next year. Each year Co-op stores ask members to nominate deserving community causes and three will receive support from Co-op's Local Community Fund.

Liz said: "People are so generous. The Co-op is always so generous to us by helping with events we run, and this is our way of giving something back.

"We did this last year but the response this year was amazing. We sent a message round all our teams and we had a great response.

"We're delighted to be helping families at Christmas."

Sandbach doesn't yet have a food hub but organisations like Sandbach United, based on Hind Heath Road, are doing their bit.

Middlewich Foodbank was delighted with the football club's donations, which included food bought from the four Co-ops in Sandbach as was Sandbach Foodbank.

A spokesman for Middlewich & District Foodbank said: "We were so thankful for the club's donation of 109kg.

"This will be an important part of our Christmas parcel distribution during the week commencing 13 December."

Co-op's 2021 Christmas campaign, 'Christmas Together with Food' is about giving thanks and bringing people together at Christmas through the love of food.

Co-op is committed to supporting the local community and through fair access to food, mental well-being support and opportunity for young people.

As part of 'Christmas Together with Food' Co-op announced the extension of its partnership with environmental charity Hubbub, Co-op's flagship partnership in its fair access to food mission.

After identifying 100 locations for Community Fridges in 2021, Co-op will be releasing funding to support the setup of a further

A Community Fridge is a social space that brings people together to eat, connect, learn new skills and reduce food waste.

The Co-op is enabling community groups to apply for funding to set up a Community Fridge through its online community Co-operate

here

You can help to support the scheme by becoming a Co-op member.

When you buy selected Co-op branded products and services, 2p for every pound spent goes to you and Co-op gives the same to local communities.

[L]https://www.coop.co.uk/membership[L+]here