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Ref: Food Collections at Celtic Park for Food Banks
aka: Food Drive, Foodbanks, Charity
Originated: 2010’s; first main Food Drive dated as 2013
Background![[Untitled]](https://wikifoundryimages.s3.amazonaws.com/852e5377e9171bd6b4492982dcf17d39 "[Untitled]")
Celtic’s charitable ethos has been heavily discussed by the support and by various media, but there has little been a better example of it in practise than that of the Food Collection initiatives at Celtic Park.
For background, one of the distressing factors in the 2010s has been the need en masse by those in distressed circumstances relying on food banks for assistance to be able to feed their families. This site is not an appropriate forum to debate the relevant issues, but all will agree that out of general social morality, there is an onus on us all to assist.
At Celtic, the often barracked Green Brigade group have led what has become an annual Food Collection at Celtic Park. With the support of both the Club (officially) and other groups, the Green Brigade have been able to promote the drive and support the efforts of the staff at the Food Banks. It has become an annual drive (and often a frequent one during the year) to help promote the issue and bring it all to the forefront.
The response has been both incredible and humbling, and has inspired similar efforts at other clubs elsewhere. To see The Celtic Way with the numerous bags of food donated to help their fellow man is humbling.
It doesn’t solve society’s problems but to those it supports it makes a tangible difference.
A great example of human kindness, very much The Celtic Way.
2021 Police enforcement scandal
On 28 November 2021, The Green Brigade held it’s annual foodbank collection, which has been a well received and supported event with never an issue raised by anyone. This time, the vans that are parked outside Celtic Park to take donations to local food banks were targeted by traffic wardens and police who have put down fines.
Claims of local residents complaints about the parking were laughed off by everyone as there are no local residents close at all to the front of the stadium. It was clear that this was again confrontational action by Police Scotland who have sadly had a needlessly caused upset and harassment at certain football games for Celtic fans. Four fines of £60 each were sanctioned, a disgrace.
Across the Celtic support there was unified protest (from the forums, CSCs, websites). However, Celtic (via the much respect club liaison officer) claiming the club had not asked the police to move the vehicles, whilst the policeman on the day involved had said Celtic had reported to move the vehicles. The reports claimed the vans were obstructing for potential emergency vehicles. Poorly handled managed, and many sceptical of the police action here.
2022 – Celts Supporting Foodbanks
@CeltsFoodbanks started up in July 2022; first collection 16th July 2022 at Celtic Park at Celtic v Blackburn Rovers Friendly.
Links
Articles
Confirmed: Police Scotland Targeted Celtic Foodbank Collection
https://celtsarehere.com/confirmed-police-scotland-targeted-celtic-foodbank-collection/
By M.Ross – November 30, 2021
The Green Brigade’s annual Foodbank collection for the poorest and most deprived people in Glasgow was targeted by Police Scotland for parking their vans outside the stadium.
The vans were parked and ready to take all donations to Foodbanks when they were approached by Pokice and traffic wardens.
A first hand account we had from someone helping to run the food drive claimed the Police even lied and told them Celtic had complained about the vans being parked – something that was completely false.
Police Scotland targeted the fans and contacted traffic wardens in order to hand out fines to the vans.
A spokesperson for the council had the brass neck to put out this statement:
“Parking restrictions are in place around Celtic Park on match day to ensure key routes are kept clear for emergency service vehicles at all times.
“On Sunday Police Scotland made our parking enforcement team aware of a number of vehicles parked on London Road next to Celtic Park, which were in breach of these restrictions.
“Our parking attendants spoke to the drivers of the vehicles and asked that they move on from the restricted area.
“Only when the drivers refused to move on were penalty charge notices issued against the vehicles blocking a route for emergency vehicles on match day.
“We received no request for a dispensation for the vehicles to be parked at this location at this time.
“But we will liaise with the club and Police Scotland to ensure such vehicles can be parked appropriately in future.”
Police Scotland knew exactly what they were doing. It’s become a pattern for them to harass football fans. Had this not been the Green Brigades food drive, common sense would have prevailed and the vans would have been allowed to sit for a short period while they were loaded to take to foodbanks.
It’s deplorable they issued fines and are now and the council are now sticking by them despite knowing why the vans were there.
This is happening in the back drop of Celtic looking to appoint Bernard Higgins to a role at the club. The police chief helped head up the harassment of football fans for nearly a decade with the now defunct Offensive behaviour act.
Issuing fines to vans collecting for food banks was an own goal. Lessons must be learned – Stephen McIlkenny
Football is by its very nature, a tribal sport.
By Stephen Mcilkenny
Thursday, 2nd December 2021, 7:12 am
https://www.scotsman.com/news/opinion/issuing-fines-to-vans-collecting-for-food-banks-was-an-own-goal-lessons-must-be-learned-stephen-mcilkenny-3478553
The divisions and the age old rivalries, are for many, what makes the game so compelling.
However, there are many things that fans come together on. Every club in Scotland has some charitable wing and many work together to raise money for wonderful and important causes.
While there are often negative headlines, football can also be a catalyst for good. Many clubs and supporters work with their communities to give back, whether it be through charitable donations or the clubs themselves opening their doors to allow part of their stadium to become a vaccine centre or medical facility.
On Sunday, a Celtic FC supporters group held their Christmas food bank appeal outside of Celtic Park ahead of the Aberdeen match.
According to the organisers, 9 vans worth of food was collected for charities and food bank centres to be distributed across Glasgow and the West, with close to £18,000 in cash also raised.
While such an effort has rightly been applauded by many across Scotland, and thousands will benefit, sadly, the organisers were issued with four parking fines of £60 for parking illegally.
Many were outraged, but alarmingly, not all. One MSP, John Mason, even took to Twitter to if those organising “could have parked legally”
But surely the better question is “Could common sense not have prevailed?”
After all, according to reports, police officers initially approached the group who weren’t parked near a residential area and let them carry on after they explained the reason why the vans were parked outside the stadium, so did four fines of £60 really have to be implemented?
Surely as one of the main areas benefiting from the donations, Glasgow City Council should be praising the move and working towards supporting those giving their time to aid those volunteering for food banks.
Is £240 really better in the Council coffers than going towards a local food bank?
Glasgow, and the country as a whole, has seen a significant uptake in the number of people relying on food banks. Sadly, efforts from the public to raise money and goods for food banks are now needed and all causes to help them should be applauded, regardless of who is behind it.
Food collections should not be polarised through the tribal prism of football. Anyone can use and benefit from a food bank. They are open to all regardless of religion, ethnicity, age and certainly the football team you support.
Regardless of what colour scarf you wear or even whether you enjoy football or not, those who organise and volunteer to collect food for those in need should be championed, and certainly not fined £60 for a parking offence.
The crime here isn’t illegally parking. It’s the incompetence and lack of common sense on display, and those responsible must learn from their mistake or risk scoring another own goal.
2022
