Matthew Riley donates 200 meals per week to Burnley FC in the Community
Serial entrepreneur Matthew Riley is giving back to the community by donating hundreds of meals to those in need during the coronavirus crisis.
The founder of Daisy Group has engaged the services of APB Catering to prepare and donate 200 meals per week to Burnley charity, Burnley FC in the Community, in order to help vulnerable people in this time of need.
Just last week, Matthew also announced his personal support for Pendle Food For All, Inspiring Grace, and Nelson Community Mosque.
Daisy Group, a provider of telecoms and business communications services has a strong heritage in the region, having started out in Nelson in 2001 and now employing over 500 people at its Lomeshaye Industrial Estate site.
Many of its staff live in the area and Matthew is passionate about the company’s responsibilities in supporting the local community and the people that reside within it.
Figures taken between 23rd March and 23rd April, showed that Burnley’s foodbank had delivered 907 food parcels feeding 2,038 local people.
Matthew said: “The demand for food banks has increased during the current pandemic, yet donations are rapidly decreasing and supplies are scarce. I wanted do my bit and I’d encourage everyone, wherever possible, to try and donate something to their local food bank to help keep these vital services running.”
Tony Black, owner of APB Catering, is using Daisy’s on-site kitchen, to prepare and cook the 200 freshly made food parcels for Burnley in the Community each week; each emergency food parcel containing a nutritious hot meal and pudding.
Neil Hart, Chief Executive Officer of Burnley FC said: “We are extremely grateful to Matthew Riley for this generous donation which will have a huge impact on those in need.
“Burnley FC in the Community would like to extend its thanks for the amazing support the foodbank has received so far from the community. It would also like to thank all the partner organisations working together to deliver this essential service.”
According to research, almost 12,000 food parcels were handed out by food banks in Lancashire and the North West in 2019, and these figures are expected to dramatically increase as people struggle for money for food during the pandemic.
Burnley FC in the Community runs the Burnley Community Kitchen foodbank and since the Covid-19 outbreak and introduction of social distancing measures is working as part of Burnley Together.
