#CoronavirusKindness: Volunteers offer support to the elderly during outbreak

A pub has been giving out “care packages” to the elderly and a university lecturer has created postcards for those in self-isolation, as volunteers across the country carry out acts of kindness to help those affected by the coronavirus outbreak

A branch of Iceland will open for one hour a day for elderly people only from Tuesday, allowing the customers to stock up on food and other supplies as the disease spreads.

Older customers at the store in the Kennedy Centre, Belfast, will be able to use the slot between 8am and 9am.

It comes after UK shoppers have been stockpiling the likes of toilet roll and hand soap, as other countries such as Spain and Italy have been put on lockdown because of the virus.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said that over-70s will be asked to self-isolate “in the coming weeks” to try and protect them from the coronavirus.

The Kennedy Centre said in a statement: “Iceland Foods at the Kennedy Centre will be opening their store 8 – 9am for the elderly commencing Tuesday 17th March.

“Could the wider public please respect this hour, and understand that this time is allocated for elderly people only.

“Iceland appeal to people’s better nature when realising who needs priority.”

Italian celebrity chef Gino D’Acampo expressed his approval of the move and tweeted: “I like this… very cool @IcelandFoods GDx”

The Bootle Arms pub in Liverpool has created care packages for isolated elderly people affected by the virus.

The pub wrote on its Facebook page: “With the news of our loved ones over the age of 70 beginning to self-quarantine, we would like to help some way in making this time as easy and as stressless as possible. We’ve a few care packages made up with some essentials and some luxuries.

“These contain, toilet roll, tissues, soap, detergent tablets, cough sweets, cereal bars, custard, jam, crisps, coffee, tea, sugar, milk pots, porridge, pasta meal, raisins, biscuits.

“Plus a pencil and some crosswords.

“Anyone with pets let us know as we also have some food and treats for our four legged family members too.

“If you yourself or a loved one is in need of one of these please get in touch.”

The Bootle Arms has since set up a GoFundMe page after saying it had been “overwhelmed with the need for the care packages”.

The pub had reached £303 of its £1,000 target on Monday morning.

Nationwide building society is trialling new branch opening hours during the virus outbreak to help the elderly and most vulnerable.

More than 100 branches will open from 8am on 18 March, instead of the usual 9am, to determine whether it is an effective way of providing support to people aged 70 and above and those with underlying health conditions.

The new opening hours will run from Monday to Friday.

Hundreds of community groups have sprung up across the country to help people affected by COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.

Facebook groups are being linked nationally by COVID-19 Mutual AID UK.

The volunteer network said on Sunday night that that 400 groups had been set up, and urged people to visit its website to find out how to join or start a group.

A volunteer on a Facebook page called Bristol Community Care – COVID-19 Mutual Aid suggested collecting old smart phones for people who do not have them so they can “video call friends and family”.

A contributor to the Wolverhampton COVID-19 Mutual Aid page said they had found a shop with lots of nappies, wipes and toilet rolls, for those who were struggling to locate such items.

Nasc, a charity that supports migrants and refugees in Ireland, tweeted that people have donated hundreds of bars of soap, as well as handwash and paracetamol during the outbreak.

The charity wrote on Twitter: “People of Cork ye are amazing! Delighted to partner with the wonderful folks at @SanctuaryRunner 100s of bars of soap, handwash as well as paracetamol, Calpol etc as well as activities for kids Delivery truck on Monday! #directprovision #COVIDー19 #legends.”

University lecturer Becky Wass, 32, from Falmouth, Cornwall, has made a postcard designed to help people who are self-isolating.

The person who delivers the postcard can tick off boxes to show which services they can provide – including picking up shopping and posting mail.

The postcard includes an empty space for recipients to write their name and phone number.

Social media users have been using the hashtag #coronaviruskindness to offer their services or share heartwarming stories.

A Twitter user named Peak Street Deb heaped praise on a neighbour who offered his service during the outbreak.

She wrote: “Step away from angry hashtags and make space for some #CoronavirusKindness stories. My neighbour, who has ME, rang me (ace constitution) to make sure my family had enough loo roll as he always keeps one spare pack in stock in case he can’t get out. What a gem!”

As of 9am on Monday, 1,543 people had tested positive for coronavirus – and figures from Sunday show 35 people in the UK have died since being diagnosed.

(c) Sky News 2020: #CoronavirusKindness: Volunteers offer support to the elderly during outbreak