Feeding Gainsborough has been delivering food parcels to residents who are vulnerable and self-isolating

Feeding Gainsborough and Phoenix Court are delivering food parcels

The parcels were delivered to Phoenix Court which is a designed for people aged 55 or over who want to live an independent life and run by Longhurst Group.

Sarah Smith, scheme manager at Phoenix Court, has been working with Feeding Gainsborough, a group of three local social organisations which collects surplus food from businesses in the area and donates it to those in need, since October last year.

However, with coronavirus putting an end to the regular Saturday morning distribution and collection of food items at Phoenix Court, food parcels will instead be put together and distributed to residents.

Sarah said: “At the moment, due to the coronavris, bringing surplus food here for residents to pick from has been suspended to ensure that we adhere to social distancing guidelines.

“Instead, Feeding Gainsborough is now doing food packages, these could be bread, cakes, bottles of water, for everyone. I have distributed the first batch to all residents on scheme at a safe distance.

“We decided to do a package for everyone in the first instance, before allowing them to decide if they wanted the help on an ongoing basis as some are more independent than others.

“There are 33 occupied bungalows at Phoenix Court, so there will be plenty of packages to distribute on an ongoing basis. I can’t thank Feeding Gainsborough enough. Without them and their help, it would put even more pressure on me and my colleagues at Phoenix Court.

Sarah said the eldest resident at Phoenix Court is 98-years-old, while others have various health conditions and families are trying their best to help, but some are self-isolating.

Julie Musonda, Director at Feeding Gainsborough, said: “We cover all the food groups, not just tinned food and we are trying our best to match what we send to the residents of Phoenix Court to their likes and preferences. We hope that the food parcels make a difference for those who need some support during these difficult times and this will be an ongoing thing on a weekly basis for at least the next three months.”