West Ham United goalkeepers Łukasz Fabiański and Kinga Szemik helped to put smiles on children’s faces as they showed their support for Irons Supporting Foodbanks as part of the Players’ Project programme.
Reuniting with Irons Supporting Foodbanks founder John Ratomski, Fabiański visited Community Food Enterprise, a Newham-based charity, to sort through a £2,000 pallet of food that had been donated by Hammers fans on matchdays.
The shot-stopper then teamed up with fellow Poland international Szemik at Bonny Downs Community Association, a local community support project, to deliver the food and footballs to volunteers and children supported by the Community Centre, who were overjoyed by the visit of the Hammers players.
The pair were not the only surprise for the children, as the Club’s mascot Bubbles the Bear also joined the event, accompanied by the Hammers’ iconic song and a bubble machine.
Since Ratomski set up Irons Supporting Foodbanks five years ago, they have gone from supporting six foodbanks to more than 100, as well as community groups and homeless centres from Poplar to Colchester.
Over the last three years, more than £250,000 worth of food has been donated and Irons Supporting Foodbanks are set to hit their target they set at the beginning of the year: to provide 20 tonnes of food (£80,000 worth) throughout 2024 to those in need.
“It's always great to have the involvement and support of the Club for what we do, especially as we head into Christmas and the weather’s colder,” said Ratomski.
“The Club’s helped us out, they gave us a fair amount of surplus clothing, as well as clothing from Umbro, all new, and we distribute these to the homeless, to community groups, to kids.
“We can only do this with the generosity of football fans, it’s down to them and we’re so grateful.”
Co-director of Bonny Downs Community Association Stacey Cordery echoed the words of Ratomski, for whom she supports, alongside others from the charity, in collecting donations from supporters.
“It was a joy to have the West Ham players come to our WELLcome hub, where we run our foodbank,” she said. “Our partnership with Irons Supporting Foodbanks means that we can continue supporting the most vulnerable, thanks to the generosity of Hammers fans.
“Seeing West Ham players actively supporting this initiative makes us feel seen and recognised for our vital poverty relief work in the East End of London.”
This is not the first time Ratomski and Fabianski have worked together, with the Pole assisting Irons Supporting Foodbanks in December 2022. He was delighted to be with Ratomski again, alongside Szemik, to help bring joy to the local community.
“I had a chance to do something similar a couple of years ago and I had a chance to meet John, and I realised how great a job he’s doing for the local community,” said the men’s team’s No1.
“When I heard about this happening, I was really looking forward to it, not only to see John again but to have a chance to see Kinga as well.
“Since I joined West Ham, the Club has been crazy about supporting the local community, and each year I think they just grow in terms of how much they want to provide for and help people.
“It’s something so nice and special, and I’m just happy to be a part of it.”
Despite only joining West Ham United women’s team in the summer, Szemik has seen how much the Club wants to support those in need.
In the wake of catastrophic floods in Poland in September, Szemik contacted the Club, and West Ham raised donations and food to help the people in her home country - which showed her the ‘strength of the community’ in east London.
Reflecting on her first time supporting the charity in Claret and Blue, Szemik said: “Honestly, I really appreciate the work that’s being done by all the volunteers and people helping the community. It’s very important.
“Everyone’s been really nice, the atmosphere’s great so hopefully some good will come out of this.
“Meeting the fans are the little things that don’t have a price tag. You have these little moments with people that make their day or week. For you, it doesn’t seem a big thing to do, but for them it’s a big deal and I think we should remember that.
“We can make the world a better place by doing those small things.
“For me, any time I’ll be able to help on my side, and bring anything they need, I’ll be there. Because when I asked, they were there for me as well.”
For more information on Irons Supporting Foodbanks and how you can support them, please click HERE.
