Duncan Watmore lends a hand at Sunderland soup kitchen as former Black Cats make stunning donation

Sunderland AFC’s former players’ association have donated £500 to the Sunderland Community Soup Kitchen ahead of the festive season.
Sunderland Former Player Association handing over a cheque to the soup kitchen at Emanuel Community Church, Hudson Road, Sunderland. Pictured l-r are Jimmy Shoulder, Kieran Brady, current play Duncan Watmore, Gary Bennett, Andrea Bell receiving the cheque and Philip Lowes secretary of the Association.Sunderland Former Player Association handing over a cheque to the soup kitchen at Emanuel Community Church, Hudson Road, Sunderland. Pictured l-r are Jimmy Shoulder, Kieran Brady, current play Duncan Watmore, Gary Bennett, Andrea Bell receiving the cheque and Philip Lowes secretary of the Association.
Sunderland Former Player Association handing over a cheque to the soup kitchen at Emanuel Community Church, Hudson Road, Sunderland. Pictured l-r are Jimmy Shoulder, Kieran Brady, current play Duncan Watmore, Gary Bennett, Andrea Bell receiving the cheque and Philip Lowes secretary of the Association.

Former Black Cats Gary Bennett, Kieron Brady and Jimmy Shoulder were on hand to present a cheque to founder Andrea Bell – who has revealed how their support will aid the work of the charitable organisation.

“It’s going to help us buy vegetables and fruit, because the big focus for us going forward is getting vitamins into children, old people, anybody really,” she said.

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“This donation will give us the scope to buy in fruit and vegetables, because we don’t get that for free.

“We don’t have any paid workers, and this money is important to help us continue doing what we do.”

Bell had special praise for former Sunderland captain Bennett – whose support has helped the soup kitchen grow in size since it was founded in July.

“Gary, when he’s worked outside, he’s been brilliant and has acted just like any other volunteer,” she added.

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“He mingled, he chatted, asked them what they had been up to and acted very naturally. To them, that meant the world. They were having photographs taken with him and it was brilliant for them.

“It made them feel important, and a lot of what we do is about making people feel important.

“Gary is my quiet hero, and to have that support is so important.”

And the former Sunderland heroes were joined at the organisation’s base by current first team star Duncan Watmore, who himself pledged £1000 to the cause alongside his family earlier this month.

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The forward swapped his boots for a hair net as he mucked in alongside the soup kitchen’s team of volunteers

“It’s so nice to feel a tiny bit a part of this and to help in any way

“Just turning up and seeing all the hard work the guys are putting in and the good it does for the community is really humbling – especially at this time of year when we can forget how lucky we are. There’s so many people who don’t have that in their lives.”

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