It’s not the sort of ‘delivery’ they expected to focus on doing the 2020 season, but SUNS stars Lachie Weller, Touk Miller and Peter Wright today rolled-up their sleeves, turned on their car engines and headed out to deliver free meals to eligible club members.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Gold Coast SUNS have launched the SUNS Community Crew to provide meals to senior (60 and over) and vulnerable club members.

The campaign will see SUNS employees, AFL/AFLW players and coaches deliver free ready-to-eat fresh meals to up to 1,500 eligible club members.

This part of the campaign has been made possible thanks to long-term club partner Gilbert Street Purveyor Group and their brand the street food co.

SUNS CEO Mark Evans said it was great to see players joining in and supporting their community and that he expected more members to take up the offer over the coming weeks.

“As a club, we want to support our Gold Coast community during this tough time including delivering free meals to 1,500 eligible SUNS members and creating work for our valued staff,” he said.

The SUNS Community Crew campaign will also see the ready-to-eat meal and produce delivery service extended to the wider community – including businesses wanting to look after the welfare of staff - so they can purchase quality, fresh meals and produce from the street food co. SUNS staff will also deliver these purchases.

Metricon Stadium will be repurposed as a distribution centre and all involved will wear PPE and follow stringent sanitisation protocols. There are also plans for a pick-up option at Metricon Stadium where customers can stay in their car and have their order placed in their boot to avoid contact.

The Gold Coast broader community can purchase meals by visiting streetfoodco.com.au. All purchases through streetfoodco.com.au delivered by the SUNS staff will see a percentage of the revenue returned to the club.

“Since this pandemic began, our focus has been on the health and safety of our players, staff and local community and I thank the street food co. for helping make this campaign possible,” Evans said.

“The SUNS Community Crew will also deliver meals to the wider Gold Coast community which I think will be a popular and important service enabling people to stay at home without losing the ability to access quality food and meals.”

Conrad Smith from the street food co. said:

“As a long-time partner of the SUNS this presented an opportunity to support both the local community and the club,” he said.

“Like many organisations, the SUNS have been impacted by the Coronavirus and through the community purchasing from the street food co. we can provide some support to the club.”