Island Network works with Winter Warmers on Isle of Dogs

MESUT OZIL – Arsenal and Germany footballer – joined the Island Network and the Docklands FC on the Isle of Dogs on Tuesday in a massive boost to the campaign against local children suffering from holiday hunger.

Many faith-based organisations have stepped in to make up for government shortfalls in funding and provision of a safety net for the poorest members of society – but during this difficult year footballers have also stepped forward to help.
•Marcus Rashford has been widely applauded for campaigning to shift the government’s position on making school meals available in the school holidays and for the level of benefits to increase.
•Mesut Ozil is one of several Arsenal footballers who have been running a Winter Warmers campaign. Having pledged that “no child should go hungry”, the campaign distributed 50,000 meals to children in London during the autumn half term holiday.

A massive 1,000 healthy meals for children, the elderly and vulnerable residents were distributed on Tuesday from three venues on the Isle of Dogs: the Nisa shop on the Samuda estate, the Quarterdeck on the Barkantine, and the BWO Centre behind Thorne House on the St John’s estate. Over 17,000 food packs or meals have now been delivered on the Island by the Island Network.

Island Network Chair Maium Miah Talukdar thanked all the volunteers who have helped with the distribution – and the Canary Wharf Group, One Housing and the Mesut Ozil Winter Warmers campaign for funding the food packs. After the 1,000 meals distributed on Tuesday, plans were made to deliver a further 2,000 hot meals on Christmas Eve.

●Read more about the Island Network’s work on the Island:
Island Network