Coles donates healthy food to fuel the Collingwood’s Reclink Community Football team on eve of 2023 campaign
The Collingwood Magpies Community Football program has today received a much needed boost from Coles on the eve of their 2023 campaign.
The Club’s community partner, Coles, will supply the side with fresh fruit and healthy food options to support the program’s participants, which includes individuals of disadvantaged communities.
Coles’ donation is a timely one, with the news announced to the program yesterday afternoon at the Club's 2023 Reclink Football season launch. Across the fixture, Coles will provide a match day lunch to all participants along with a variety of healthy fruit snacks at each training session.
This support stems further than the side’s 13-Round campaign, with participants able to seek food support post season for the remainder of the year.
Coles Group General Manager Corporate & Indigenous Affairs Sally Fielke said Coles is delighted to provide the Club's Community Football program with nutritious food.
“Coles has been a proud partner of the Collingwood Football Club’s community foundation and programs for the past five years and we’re excited to be able to provide extra support this season to their Reclink community team,” she said.
“We know that many of the Magpies’ Reclink players are facing personal challenges, including access to healthy and nutritious food before, during and after their footy matches.
"We hope our donation will go some way to helping the Magpies Reclink team fuel up for a successful season.”
The Collingwood Magpies Community team compete in the Victorian Reclink Australian Football League with 40 participants made up of many multicultural and First Nations players under the guidance of coaches Shane Williams and former Collingwood AFL player Daniel Wells.
This year is the side’s second campaign under the Collingwood name. The Collingwood Magpies Reclink program became Collingwood’s eighth team after the Club partnered with the side in July 2021.
Established in 2008, the program has provided over 200 participants with an opportunity to improve their social, physical, and mental health.
The program creates opportunities for individuals faced with homelessness, mental health issues, unemployment, and drug and alcohol dependence by providing participants with social connection, improved health and wellbeing pathways, and access to support services through football.
Along with Collingwood’s AFL and AFLW sides, the Reclink Football team will wear Collingwood’s 2023 Sir Doug Nicholls Round guernsey this year.
The program is supported by contributions and partnerships with Victoria Police, Headspace Collingwood, and Youth Support and Advocacy Service (YSAS).
Collingwood’s Talent ID and Community Ambassador Daniel Wells thanked Coles for their generous contribution to the program.
“Coles is a key part of the Reclink program’s operation, and today’s donation is an example of their continued support for the side,” Wells said.
“We thank Coles for investing in the important work we are achieving through this program. Reclink is more than a football team, it is a way to re-engage and support disadvantaged members of our community.
“We look forward to welcoming back the participants of the program and kicking off our 2023 season in April."
Coles is an avid supporter of Collingwood’s community programs and teams. Last year the supermarket donated five sport wheelchairs to Collingwood’s Wheelchair team and hundreds of Coles Team Members have volunteered at the Magpie Nest Café where funds from the partnership are spent to provide food to some of Melbourne’s most vulnerable individuals.
The Collingwood Magpies Community Football team will kick off their 2023 season on Wednesday, April 5, Wynbay Bulldogs at the Soldiers Reserve.
