Liam Payne’s ‘compassion and kindness’ praised by charity he supported for years – Wales Online
Liam Payne has been commended for his “compassion and kindness” by a food bank charity that he had supported since the Covid pandemic arose. The former One Direction star expressed: “I’m glad to be able to play ‘my small part'” in assisting the provision of hundreds of thousands of meals, alongside volunteering at his local food bank.
Anti-poverty organisation Trussell, that operates approximately 1,400 food bank sites nationwide, acknowledged Payne as a “generous supporter” of its initiatives over the past four years. The group’s CEO, Emma Revie, shared her grief following the news of his death: “We are extremely saddened by the news of Liam Payne’s death.” She explained how Payne helped fund more than 360,000 meals during the pandemic. He also actively advocated for solutions to eliminate emergency food needs.
“We greatly appreciate the compassion and kindness he always showed to people facing hunger and hardship. His death is a very tragic loss, and our thoughts are with his loved ones,” she added. It was highlighted that Payne made a significant donation to the charity, formerly known as Trussell Trust, back in March 2020. The donation bolstered resources for over 100 food bank centres in areas including Birmingham, Stoke-on-Trent, Coventry, Sheffield, Nottingham, and Bristol to support individuals facing urgent need.
At the time, the charity expressed gratitude for a significant donation that facilitated its initial initiative of a crisis fund aimed at supporting food banks by enhancing its capacity to recruit additional staff. As well as secure delivery vehicles, or even obtain extra space, and where feasible, purchase essential food items.
The renowned artist commented on the matter, stating: “It’s not right that anyone in our country is unable to afford food. Food banks do incredible work to help the people most in need of support.” He stressed the urgent need for action, saying: “It’s vital that we get support to those people right now, as this crisis unfolds.”
Reflecting on the potential conclusion of the pandemic episode, he highlighted the impending necessity to investigate why food banks continue to be a critical part of society’s infrastructure. “When we’re out the other side of this, we need to look at why there are people in our country who don’t have enough money for food,” he pointed out.
Further expressing his desire to contribute towards a lasting solution, he added: “I want to play my part in finding a solution to ensure people have enough money to buy their own food – and end the need for food banks.”
In an April 2020 social media post accompanied by an image of himself donning protective gear while sorting out canned provisions, he shared glimpses of his contribution. He wrote: “Recently I made a personal, long-term commitment to support the The Trussell Trust and their vital work supplying meals to those in need all over the UK.” He opened up about his volunteering experience, conveying: “It was humbling to get involved at my local food bank yesterday, and to meet some of the incredibly passionate people like Carla, Dorothea and Helena who are working tirelessly during these incredibly tough times.
“I’m glad to be playing my small part as we work towards a future in which nobody needs a food bank.”