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Manchester Cares Food Delivery Pilot

Please note: this post is 58 months old and The Cares Family is no longer operational. This post is shared for information only

Over the last two weeks we've been shopping for food and delivering it to older neighbours who are self-isolating and needed a little bit of help. Included are some tips for how you can support your own neighbours and relatives.

Volunteer Grace, 25, has supported our outreach team with delivering the emergency food parcels to 11 older neighbours, during the first Manchester Cares food pilots.

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Norma, Margaret and Michael, Lufti, Gerald and Susan, Charles, Veronica, Tony, Gertrude and Hazel all received parcels filled with basics, from a loaf and cup-a-soups to milk and eggs, alongside fresh fruits and some requested essentials.

Norma said “Thank you so much for your help, you’ve put my mind at ease. We just don’t know when it’s going to end.”

Margaret and Michael received some ready meals so that they could have a hot meal and still eat the same thing together, as is their nightly tradition!

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The aim of the pilot is to help older neighbours get through the week while we help set up longer term food solutions with local partners. Including NHS Volunteer Support, the Manchester City Council Response line and local schemes such as: feedmycity, Levenshulme Inspire, Cracking Good Food and countless other amazing organisations across the city.

All parcels were safely delivered to the older neighbours doorstep where they were left and watched by the team from 4-5m away until they were collected a few minutes later.

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Gerald said “Thank you so much for my parcel, it’s lovely and has everything I need. And I love my bananas!”

Tony said "Thank you very much. Very much appreciated. Bless you and take care."

We're piloting our food deliveries to see how we can help our neighbours in these challenging times. It's been wonderful to be able to wave to friends through windows and check everyone’s okay. 

If you'd like to support your own neighbours and older relatives safely, here's some tips from our team:

  • Never go into your older neighbour’s home. Leave any food / parcels outside on your neighbour’s doorstep. 
  • Move 3 meters away and call your older neighbour on the phone to let them know it’s okay to come out and get their package. You should get confirmation from your neighbour that they’ve received your package before you leave.
  • Remind your older neighbour to wash their hands after picking up/touching the delivery. 
  • Remember that you should wash hands before and after any deliveries you make. Where possible wash your hands for 20 seconds with soap and water. When out and about keep a bottle of alcohol hand sanitiser to hand. 
  • If possible, prior to leaving it on their doorstep, disinfect any surface that will be touched by the person you are delivering to (the virus can live on inanimate surfaces for up to 24 hours).