'Need greater this time round'
Local parents who set up an emergency food donation and delivery service to help struggling families during the first lockdown, say they're busier than ever during Lockdown 3, and they're now delivering to around 60 families a week across Southampton.
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It all started during the first lockdown in March last year, when Zoe Lovett who couldn't work decided she wanted to help some families who needed some extra help.
"I was here in lockdown last year and I thought, how can I help. I was bored," she said.
While her family was OK and she had a good family network, she said she worried about others who were struggling.
"I basically had a lot of collection points around Bitterne Park and St Denys. People donated food and I delivered it to the families who needed it."
"The first [lockdown] it wasn't as big as it is now, so I didn't have to deliver so much, if you know what I mean. It was just me and I could do it all and cover it all."
Zoe said the second lockdown also wasn't as bad as now, as more people seemed to be working.
Some of the items donated this week
But she said need is greater this time round with it being winter and people having had nearly a year of restrictions already.
"It was just after Christmas so I know everyone's struggling a little bit more ... so I put it out there on Facebook, 'I'm going to do this again; can anyone help me with locations for drop-off boxes'."
"I asked people for help, and I had a massive response and all these amazing mums came out of nowhere, and were like: 'Yeah, we'll do it!'"
"And then it just started growing."
Offers came in, people set up collection boxes in their front gardens, and a private messenger group was set up for collectors to let Zoe know when they'd had enough food donated for her to come and pick it up. And The Big Difference Scheme at Above Bar Church has also been topping up donations.
Now a Google form has also been set up for those needing support to get in touch, without having to physically "ask".
"Basically they put down their address, how many are in their family, if they've got any pets, any allergies, and if they'd like it to continue until lockdown finishes, and they tick the boxes and fill it all out ... and it gets sent to me," Zoe said.
Zoe's dining room after a particularly good week for donations!
She then sorts out how much food she has, from the mountains of donations stored in her dining room, and then starts bagging it up.
"On a Thursday and Friday me and a few of the people who are helping me do it - we go out and distribute, dropping off a bag of food to everybody who's on the list.
"I think we're up to about 60 families now. A week."
And at the moment she says every week they somehow seem to find enough food to be able to deliver to everyone on the list.
"I don't know how ... Some people donate money. Or they give it to someone who's collecting and they go out shopping. But it's all literally in my dining room."
Zoe originally set up her service for the local area focusing on Bitterne Park and St Denys. Last week she said she was delivering as far as Millbrook, coming back through Townhill Park, Bassett, Bitterne Park, St Denys, Weston, and Sholing.
"It grew a bit bigger!" she said.
Sign in a Bitterne Park window
"There were people asking for help who weren't in the community, and as it was going so well, we thought let's just open it up and see how we go."
There are no criteria for receiving help from the group: there's no assessment, and you don't have to be on benefits.
"I just want to knock the door and leave the food. As long as we can help people," said Zoe.
So what comes next?
She said after lockdown when people are back at work the service will finish.
But the group doesn't want to leave anyone in the lurch, so they're busy building ties with other initiatives and hope to refer people to schemes running beyond the current lockdown.
If you want to donate, there's a list of collection points and suggested food items below.
If you would like some "extra help in these difficult times" from the group you can complete their Google form at https://forms.gle/rkVsw5Ja8KyEUAWc7
Above: Social media post appealing for donations, with requirements and drop-off points
Some other places to get help with food supplies locally
- Feed the Community Project, St Denys Church, Dundee Road, Fridays from 11am-12.30pm. Focuses on fruit and vegetables, with other items such as bread, soup, chilled food and even flowers depending on availability.
- Gems Covid-19 Community free food bank on Tuesdays and Fridays 10.30-11.30am at Kingsland Community Centre Broad Green Kingsland SO14 1LF (no assessment, no criteria; bring bags & masks/social distancing applies. All welcome).
- Free Shop Saturdays - at Swaythling Railway Station, advertised from 10.30am-noon. "Free food and vegetables avoiding food waste. Not a food bank, just free food. Everyone welcome. Take what you need. Don't waste it, taste it!"
- Southampton Social Aid Group run a food club for a weekly membership fee of £3.50; members choose shopping worth approx £15 from a selection. Tuesdays 11.30am-1.30pm at Board in the City, Onslow Road SO14 0JG. Update 10/9/21: "We’re moving our Tuesday site from next week (from 7th Sept.[2021]) to Unity Taproom, 23-27 Princes Street, Northam." More info/membership details on their website.
- A 'food pantry', possibly similar to the above, is being considered for Townhill Park, Harefield and Midanbury. See our previous article here, and give your views on the idea through a survey.
- The Southampton Coronavirus Mutual Aid Group's isolation hotline is 07923 353365. They can offer support for those affected, such as offers of going shopping or picking up medical supplies.