The singer and former One Direction star has teamed up with The Trussell Trust to lend his support to more than 100 foodbanks in Nottingham, Sheffield, Birmingham, Bristol, Coventry and Stoke-on-Trent which are expected to come under even more strain after millions lost their incomes due to the virus outbreak.
The 26-year-old, from Wolverhampton, said: “It’s not right that anyone in our country is unable to afford food. Foodbanks do incredible work to help the people most in need of support.
“It’s vital that we get support to those people right now as this crisis unfolds.
“The Trussell Trust is working with food banks across the country to ensure emergency help is there for people who don’t have money for the basics. But I’m also donating because of the work they do to work towards a future where no one needs a foodbank — we can’t end the conversation with getting emergency food to people, as vital as that is.”
“When we’re out on the other side of this, we need to look at why there are people in this country who don’t have enough money for food.
“I want to play my part in finding a solution to ensure people have enough money to buy their own food — and end the need for foodbanks.”
It’s expected that the foodbanks set to benefit from Payne’s generosity will serve up to 120,000 meals in the next twelve weeks.
No one should have to worry about where their next meal is coming from: not now, not ever. I am donating to @TrussellTrust and if you can help too then please do… Take care, stay at home and look after one another.https://t.co/vi7SInJJGZpic.twitter.com/NPfPGdvdKy
— Liam (@LiamPayne) March 27, 2020
Emma Revie, Trussel Trust chief executive, said the charity is “so grateful” for the donation.
She added: “This will help us continue to support our network of food banks to provide the best possible emergency help to people referred at an uncertain time.
“Our main priority is the safety of everyone at a foodbank, and having support like this helps us ensure that emergency support can continue to be available in the safest possible way.”