A shipment of Everton kits has made its way to needy children in Africa. Around 4,500 items of clothing, including donations from Blues fans and Everton in the Community, has left St Luke’s Church after KitAid volunteers boxed-up the generous donations, including many from other clubs and their supporters from around Merseyside and beyond.
Everton Heritage Society helped to collect the donations, which are being flown out to thousands of underprivileged youngsters worldwide, including African countries such as Ghana, Zimbabwe, Nigeria and Malawi plus the likes of Ecuador and Colombia in South America. And the first batch of Everton kits – and various other kits donated to KitAid – has been hand-delivered to the region of Kokrobrite in Ghana by lifelong Evertonians Tom Petrie and his dad Gordon, who hail from Warrington.
Nii Kwatei, located around one hour from the capital Accra, are one of three teams to have benefited from the donations. Tom has also helped to establish a girls’ football team in Kokrobrite with shorts from Everton and shirts from Langley Park Hotspurs shirts in County Durham.
Richard Gillham, regional KitAid co-ordinator from Merseyside and Cheshire, and secretary of Everton Heritage Society, said: “We were delighted to hear that the first shipment had landed in Ghana recently. The number of kits donated in this latest appeal was over 45,000 items, of which at least 40% were from Everton Football Club and the generosity of the fans.
“I’d like to thank Carena and Ken from EitC for their support, and all the volunteers who came and helped box up the donations. Most of all, on behalf of KitAid and The Everton Heritage Society, I’d like to say a sincere thank you for the superb support we have had from the football club and its supporters and Everton in the Community.
“Rest assured, the donations you have made will go a long way to supporting the needy around Africa and South America, where, KitAid has also supported Yerry Mina’s charity boots campaign in Columbia.”
KitAid, which celebrates its 25th anniversary next year, is a charity that recycles your once loved football kit and distributes to underprivileged children and adults in some of the world’s poorest countries. They have so far organised the distribution of 900,000 pieces of kit and hope to break through the one million barrier by next year.
Richie can be contacted at rwgsiteman@aol.com, by phone at 07860230421 or by clicking here
Tom has set up a just-giving page to help with the school which can be accessed here
Click here to donate money to KitAid
READ NEXT
-
'I was on the lash' - Everton forward went from police cell to Goodison hero in less than 24 hours
-
The Big Everton Forum: Your views on Lampard, Moshiri, new stadium and transfers
-
'Spoke to Lampard' - Mohammed Kudus reveals Everton transfer talks after failed summer move
-
'Absolute joke' - Neville Southall slams FIFA 'OneLove' armband World Cup stance
