Liam Payne, the former One Direction star who tragically died at 31 last week, had made a significant donation to aid struggling families, it has been revealed. The singer fell from his third-floor hotel room balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina, resulting in multiple traumas that led to an “internal and external haemorrhage”.

Liam had previously expressed his desire to use his platform for good, a sentiment that became more pronounced during the coronavirus lockdowns. As the country went into lockdown, jobs were lost, people were furloughed, and many faced a bleak future.

Food bank usage hit record levels as the economy began to falter. However, Liam, who had accumulated a substantial fortune as part of the world’s biggest band, was determined to assist as many people as possible, having grown up in a household where money was “tight.”

He once said: “Money definitely put stress on the family in certain circumstances.”

Despite being in the most popular band and being recognized by millions, Liam did not let fame go to his head. Instead, he embarked on a mission to help others, reports the Mirror.

A fan who was volunteering at a food bank in Camden, North London, reached out to Liam, who had a longstanding relationship with The Trussell Trust, on social media. Dorothea Hackman, the director, paid tribute to Liam, describing him as the “kindest, most sensitive young man.”

Dorothea shared: “He got in touch out of the blue and offered help. We desperately needed the money at the time. We were dealing with a massive increase in demand  because of lockdown people were desperate for food. He got in touch and asked what we did and what we needed. We told him about our work and he said, ‘Right, I’m giving you £80,000.'” Half of Liam’s generous donation was given to the Camden Town organisation Food For All. The musician also took the time to visit both the Euston food bank and the Food For All’s community kitchen to lend a hand.

Dorothea added that he “Really rolled his sleeves up.” She continued: “He carried crates, packed boxes and bags, he visited us, supported us and was always charming.”

In an interview with the Camden New Journal, she revealed that everyone was “incredibly upset” by the news of his tragic passing. She praised him for understanding his social obligations as a successful young musician and for standing up to be counted.

Dorothea further mentioned that Liam insisted on no publicity while volunteering, as he was simply there to assist those less fortunate than himself. Meanwhile, Peter O’Grady, the director of Food For All, stated that Liam “saved the day” by offering the charity the largest donation they had ever received.

He also noted that Liam made no fuss about sharing his passion for helping others. Thanks to Liam’s substantial donation, approximately 360,000 food parcels could be delivered to aid those struggling amidst the financial strain of the pandemic.

Liam opened up to the Mirror about his experience volunteering at a food bank, revealing: “I was told that in terms of people turning up to that specific food bank, it was almost double, if not more. It’s terrible people need food banks anyway but now, it’s getting worse and worse. The numbers are crazy and it’s just disturbing to know how many people are without food in these circumstances. I hope enough people out there know about these food banks and can get down to them.”

However, Liam’s charitable efforts didn’t stop there. In October 2021, it came to light that he had been quietly donating his own clothes (freshly laundered, naturally) to a Depop seller working with The Closets.