Liam Payne has been remembered for his "compassion and kindness" by a food bank charity in the UK.
The tragic One Direction star - who died in Argentina on Wednesday (16.10.24) - made a "personal, long-term commitment" to support the work of anti-poverty group Trussell during the COVID-19 pandemic and he's now been praised for the kindness he showed to those facing hunger and poverty.
Trussell chief executive Emma Revie said in a statement: "We are extremely saddened by the news of Liam Payne’s death.
"Over the last four years, Liam was a generous supporter of Trussell and our community of food banks, not only funding the provision of more than 360,000 meals during COVID but also often joining us in calling for the solutions required to end the need for emergency food.
"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."
Liam previously pledged his commitment to the organisation - which runs 1,400 food banks across the UK - back in April 2020 in a message posted on Facebook alongside a picture of the singer sorting through cans of food at his local food bank.
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.
"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."
Liam made a donation which allowed the organisation to launch a crisis fund for their food banks as well as recruit more staff and delivery drivers. He said at the time: "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.
"It’s vital that we get support to those people right now, as this crisis unfolds.
"When we’re out the other side of this [the pandemic], we need to look at why there are people in our country who don’t have enough money for food."
The 31-year-old singer passed away on Wednesday (16.10.24) after plunging from the third floor of the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina and emergency services have explained he sustained multiple injuries, including a fractured skull, that meant there was no hope of saving his life.
Authorities in Buenos Aires have since launched an investigation into the star's death and the UK Foreign Office has confirmed officials have been in touch with authorities in Argentina "regarding reports of the death of a British man".
