There's still time to dig deep into the back of your wardrobe for old football kit for Christian charity Hands at Work to take to orphans and their carers in a village in Zambia. Already plenty of old shirts and shorts have been donated.
Town agreed to stage the collection in Planet Blue — just hand your kit to staff — and have also donated some junior white shirts from the 2012/13 season.
Hands at Work is after any football shirts and shorts but particularly any old Town kit as a Norwich-supporting colleague has previously taken out some yellow and green strips.
You can free up some wardrobe space by dropping in any of your old shirts and shorts at the Doncaster game or during the week if you pop into Planet Blue for tickets or merchandise. Already more than 80 shirts have been collected from fans, along with the 10 donated by Town.
Keith Clempson from Hands at Work will be taking them out to Zambia on Saturday when they will be distributed to the villagers of Chilabula. Keith says he'll supply photos and a match report of Zambia Allcomers v ITFC Motley Crew on his return. All further kit donations will be taken out on a later trip.
Hands At Work's Ken Donaldson says the response from Town fans has been overwhelming: "It has been simply way beyond our expectations - quite phenomenal. People are willing to show that they care for others, given the opportunity. Thank you that you have given supporters that opportunity.
"Keith's bags are packed, the kits are suit-cased and we'll be in touch on our return."
Ken also told us a little about the village of Chilabula and life there.
Beatrice is nine but looks like a five-year-old. She has had the HIV virus from birth. She lives with her aunt in a remote village in the north of Zambia. Through a charity called Hands At Work, a group of us visit this village every year to support and love the many orphaned kids, like Beatrice, who live here.
Ten per cent of Zambia's population are orphans and many of them have inherited HIV or AIDS. Hands at Work has local carers, often uncles, aunts, mainly grandparents but even older brothers and sisters, who look after the orphans. We support 50 orphans in this community, ensuring they at least have one meal a day, healthcare and education.
However, the kids and the carers seem to enjoy more the fact that people from so far away love them and are prepared to give up their own holiday time and spend money on being with them every year.
They welcome us on a personal level and we know them by name. The kids and their carers look forward to the fun and companionship we bring them and that includes football. However, a couple of years ago a colleague of ours went out there and took footy shirts from... that lot up the road!
Hence we’re trying to redress the balance, as well as take them something they will really use and enjoy. Football is always played with bare feet out there and they love the game. Zambia, of course, became the African Nations Cup holders just a couple of years ago.
Will you help us this year as we continue to reach out to the poorest of the poor in Africa? This is an amazing way for you to bring some happiness to orphaned children and their carers in Zambia as we continue to offer love and hope.
If you want to know more about the sponsorship of orphans like Beatrice and how you can improve her life contact ken@uk.handsatwork.org or visit www.handsatwork.org. Thank you.