Swan Districts And Foodbank Come Together To Help The West Australian Community

As uncertainty still encircles the start of the 2020 Optus WAFL and WAFLW Premiership seasons, the Swan Districts Football Club continue to turn the shutdown into positive ways to help the community.

Priding themselves on living their club values, players and staff have donated their time at Foodbank, making hampers for the more vulnerable and less fortunate around WA.

As panic buying ran rampant throughout the broader community, many ‘at risk’ people were unable to attend their local shopping centres, leaving them without essential everyday food and sanitary items.

With a majority of Foodbank volunteers being over the age of 65 and required to self-isolate for the duration of Covid-19, finding people to donate time was proving difficult.

To help meet the community demand of hampers required, the club jumped at the chance to show that their team work wasn’t just evident on the field.

Led by Matt Hewitson, the Director of Community & Facilities Development at the club, players and staff were able to prepare 1088 hampers, ready for delivery to those who needed them most.

‘We have partnered with Foodbank on a number of occasions over the last few years, and they play such an important role in the community’ Matt said.

‘One of our values as an organisation is “We Fly Together” so it was really important that we could come together to help one of our community partners at a time of need.’

A significant proportion of the Foodbank hampers are sent out to regional areas throughout WA.

With the Swan Districts staff in Roebourne able to use them as part of their School Breakfast Program, it also allows the other teams in Hedland, Onslow and Newman with an opportunity to contribute their time to such a worthy cause.

Club CEO, Jeff Dennis, says that being able to help the community at such a personal level is a credit to what Swan Districts are all about.

‘Swans is more than a football club’ he said. ‘Our purpose is to build community, develop people and improve peoples’ lives.’

‘Helping organisations, like Foodbank, provides such an important service for vulnerable people in our community.’

While other organisations, including WAFL clubs, have had to stand down or lay staff off during this unprecedented time, SDFC have remained dedicated in finding additional opportunities to help the needs of both their workers and the people of WA.

‘We have staff working in schools and with community partners delivering important education and community programs’ Jeff stated. ‘Other staff, board members, volunteers and players are providing online videos keeping kids active.’

‘Our staff are critical to who we are and what we do.’