Everton Provide KitAid For Needy Youngsters In Africa

A shipment of around 4,500 items of clothing and Everton kits has made its way to needy children in Africa.

The shipment, which includes donations from Blues fans and Everton in the Community, 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 the wider north west and north east regions.

Everton Heritage Society helped to collect the donations, which are being flown out to thousands of underprivileged youngsters worldwide, including countries such as Ghana, Zimbabwe, Nigeria and Malawi and further afield to the likes of Ecuador and Colombia.

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 Everton fans Tom Petrie and his dad Gordon, who hail from Warrington.

Richard Gillham, regional KitAid coordinator 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 per cent were from Everton Football Club and the generosity of the fans.

“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.

To donate money to KitAid, please visit: Just Giving