Food aid in name of top Gunner Alan
Woman fights hunger and loneliness in memory of her Arsenal fan father
Friday, 23rd May — By Margaux Perrin
Katie Briefel with her father Alan and brother James at Arsenal
A WOMAN who lost her Arsenal-loving father last year has spoken of how she is trying to turn his death into “something positive” by fighting against hunger and loneliness.
Katie Briefel has set up the project Another Day Begins in honour of her father Alan, and is hoping to help those at the heart of Islington “right by dad’s beloved Arsenal”.
Ms Briefel, who lost her father last Christmas, a time when they would normally volunteer delivering food parcels, said: “As part of the healing journey, I’ve been trying to think about how I can turn it into something positive.”
The project is calling for donations that will go towards breakfast food parcels distributed by the Trussell Trust Food Bank, and help St Luke’s Community Centre host in-person events.
“I started the fundraiser aiming for £500, then within a day I’d already hit two grand and then within three days I’d hit three grand, and now it’s almost at five,” she said.
The family when they were younger
Ms Briefel added that the initiative was named after one of her dad’s famous catchphrases. “In the morning when we were kids he used to wake us up and open the curtains and go ‘Another day begins!’,” she said.
“It’s an idea that each new morning has an opportunity to have a good day or better day than the one before.”
The parcels will also contain handwritten notes.
“My Dad used to write little handwritten letters for us all the time,” said Ms Briefel.
“It’s to add a little bit of humanity into these.”
Ms Briefel recalled going to Highbury to watch Arsenal games when she was young.
She said: “Dad liked to be right in the action. There was a lot of swearing and a lot of energy. But actually, that’s the best place to be.”
So great was her father’s love for the Gunners that people arrived at his funeral draped in Arsenal scarves.
Lisa Burrell, senior communications manager at St Luke’s Community Centre, said: “One of our focuses is to reach people who might be otherwise isolated.”
She added: “Our food hub has become a much bigger thing with Covid.
“People that do not normally have access by other means, they can get it through St Luke’s.”
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