Aberdeen Football Club and their partner charity AFC Community Trust (AFCCT) have marshalled their forces to support fans and the wider community in the North-East more than ever to overcome the challenges of coronavirus.
The core focus has been to work in partnership with Community Food Initiatives North East (CFINE) to make deliveries of food to areas where the Trust already work to reduce food poverty, supporting children during the school closures.
As part of the #StillStandingFree campaign a delivery service is being operated five days a week by AFC and AFCCT staff and volunteers.
Since starting the delivery service on 20 March, the initiative has supported over 5,400 people in the city and shire, from Mastrick to Macduff.
The initial fundraising target for the #StillStandingFree campaign was £20,000 which was reached on Tuesday 14 April! With the incredible support from the Red Army, a new target of 100,000 was set, which will see an even greater community outreach in the North-East and beyond. A fantastic £32,000 has been raised via the Just Giving page.
To enable the Trust to continue this valuable community outreach programme AFC board of directors, have also pledged to match donate 10% of the total revenues generated by the sale of season tickets from 30 of April to 1 June to the Trust.
With that news AFC have now set the ambitious target of generating £200,000 through a matched donation.
AFC Chairman, Dave Cormack, said: "Aberdeen Football Club has been at the heart of our community for over 100 years. Today, we stand ready to do whatever we can to assist the community in what is a rapidly escalating, unprecedented situation."
Over 12,600 Dons fans who may be at risk of social isolation have also been bolstered by a phone call from the Club in the last month. Whether from a Club representative, a former player or a first team player, these check in calls have been the highlight of the day for elderly fans during the coronavirus imposed lockdown.
Acknowledging the value of these calls and the deliveries of food and essentials to the most vulnerable in the community, the Club is working even more closely with the AFC Community Trust, to reach as many fans as possible.