COMMUNITY NEWS

McNeil Shows Support To Community Initiatives

Dwight McNeil is helping to make a difference to the lives of hundreds of people across Merseyside this Christmas.

The Everton forward has donated to three separate initiatives that aid those who face hardship over the festive season.

Dwight and his partner Megan researched how they could personally support the local community and decided to generously contribute to the excellent work that takes place at the Mission Christmas Toy Appeal, The Whitechapel Centre and Everton in the Community's Blue Base Grotto.

Last week, they made an emotional visit to the Mission Christmas Warehouse where they dropped off a car full of toys that will be distributed to disadvantaged local children.

The campaign, run by radio station Radio City in Liverpool, appeals for people to buy an extra present at Christmas time. 

After discovering about Mission Christmas, Dwight and Megan were eager to get involved and spent hours at the warehouse reading through the applications and packing up the gift sets.


This year there has been more than 31,000 applications from teachers, social workers and youth workers for children who may not receive a gift this Christmas.

On Thursday this week, Dwight spent his day off visiting two other sites which support underprivileged people throughout the Merseyside region.

Accompanied again by Megan, Dwight called in at the donation warehouse for The Whitechapel Centre - the leading homeless and housing charity in Liverpool - where they donated items from the charity’s Christmas wishlist such as toiletry sets, selection boxes and Christmas treats that can be put in their centres for people to share during the festive period. They spent time at the warehouse making up gift bags that will be given out to those who are homeless across the region.

The Whitechapel Centre’s Christmas appeal aims to provide a warm safe space, a gift and a cooked Christmas dinner for anyone who is rough sleeping in the city. Dwight and Megan also made a contribution towards 100 Christmas dinners for homeless people in the city.

The couple later visited Everton in the Community's Blue Base Grotto to meet children from the local area who had been invited along to take part in Christmas crafts, enjoy a hot meal and receive a present from an extra special Blue Santa. 

More than 140 children are attending the grotto over two days and are either participants from the charity's programmes, L4 residents, referrals from local schools or simply children who have had a difficult year. 

During their time at the grotto, Dwight and Megan helped children make decorations for their Christmas tree, joined in colouring in activities and helped Blue Santa and his elf distribute presents. 

Dwight and Megan kindly purchased the presents for the grotto and covered food costs as well as making a donation to the charity's Blue Base Pantry to ensure that community members received some Christmas food items. 

The Pantry was launched in June this year to meet the ever-growing needs of the community in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis. 

Hosted weekly, it provides participants and people living in the Blue Mile (the one-mile radius surrounding Goodison) with access to discounted food as well as wrap-around support such as advice and guidance on benefits, welfare and housing support and wellbeing activities.

More than 8,000 people have accessed the services over the last six months, with the pantry now the fourth busiest ‘Your Local Pantry’ in the UK outside of London and Birmingham

"We were really keen to get involved and do what we could to help the local community," explained Dwight. “The thought that we’ve made someone’s Christmas a little easier or a little happier is really what’s made our Christmas this year. 

"It makes you appreciate everything you had growing up. Just being here today, helping the little ones and celebrating Christmas is really special.

"I've been at the Club for only a short time but it's amazing to see how Everton in the Community engages with local people. The pantry is just one example of that. 

"There is so much great work that takes place across Liverpool - it's been amazing to see and be part of that."


Anthony Gordon also made a personal donation to the Blue Base Pantry, one of several community activities involving Everton's First-Team players ahead of Christmas.

"Dwight and Anthony's generosity will make a huge difference to the lives of so many people in the local area," added Everton in the Community Chief Executive Officer Sue Gregory. "They are both really passionate about helping the community and we are very appreciative of their support."

More information about Mission Christmas can be found by clicking here.

More information about the Whitechapel Centre can be found by clicking here.

More information about the Blue Base Pantry can be found by clicking here.