Charity makes urgent plea for volunteers and donations to respond to pandemic

Framework, which provides accommodation and support to some of the most vulnerable people in the East Midlands, is appealing urgently for volunteers to help with its work and for businesses and members of the public to donate food, money and other essentials.

The charity needs help to support more than 1,000 people with whom it works who need particular help as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic: these are homeless people living in its hostels and vulnerable people which it supports in the community.

To help support these people across the county Framework is making four specific and urgent requests, for:

• Volunteers to support staff and service users in its services

• Volunteers willing to drive and make essential deliveries to Framework services and service users

• Donations from the public, particularly of non-perishable food, soap, towels, toiletries and cleaning products

• Donations from businesses particularly of fresh and non-perishable food and takeaway food containers.

To channel the public’s enthusiasm to support its work, Framework has established a Volunteer Response Team.

People interested in volunteering should click here

Framework is also setting up ‘donation hubs’ across the county at which the public can donate items specified below.

The hubs will operate on Tuesdays and Thursdays each week between 10.00am and 3.00pm.

Hubs are located in:

• Lincoln at The Pathways Centre, Beaumont Fee, LN1 1UH

• Sleaford: The Foyer, 81 Eastgate, NG34 7EA

• Spalding: Rowan House, 2 The Meadows, PE11 1XR

• Scunthorpe: Anvil House, Scunthorpe DN17 1QH 

The entrance to Anvil House is on Dorchester Road, off Bristol Road, next to the West Common Lane Medical Centre

Framework is appealing for donations of:

• Non-perishable items: tins and jars – beans, tomatoes, pasta sauces, spaghetti/hoops/ravioli, tinned fruit and vegs, tuna, soups, pot noodles, pasta, rice, frozen pizzas, porridge and cereal, sweet biscuits, chocolate bars and snacks, cakes, tea bags, instant coffee, jams, peanut butter, chocolate spread, crackers and rice cakes, long life milk – in cartons and individual sachets.

• Fluids: Fruit juices, squash and water.

• Baby products: including nappies, baby wipes, baby milk, food, teething crackers.

• Toiletries: Bars of soap. Deodorant. Toilet rolls. Other personal toiletry products including shampoo, shower gel/body washes, toothpaste and toothbrushes, shaving products, sanitary products.

• Cleaning products: wipes, cloths, washing up liquid, anti-bacterial spray, bin bags, hand sanitisers, gloves and masks.

 Other items: bath sheets and hand towels. Clothes are not a priority.

Framework is also appealing to businesses in the food supply chain including producers, retailers, restaurants and take aways, for perishable food items including meat, fruit and vegetables, and for stocks of new and unused take away food containers and carrier bags.

Framework can accept food past its best before but not its use by date.

To contact Framework regarding food donations ring 0115 970 9536 and leave a message - the answerphone will only be checked on a Tuesday and a Thursday.

Alternatively email [email protected]

Further details available here

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