CORONAVIRUS AND ITS IMPACT ON DARTMOUTH CHARITIES
Some people have enjoyed lockdown - fewer people, fewer cars, no work and more wildlife. Others have been left without access to friends, family and basic necessities like food and medicine. But a strong collection of charities around Dartmouth sprung to the rescue as soon as the lockdown rules were announced…
L Nick Hindmarsh, DARTMOUTH CARING.
ife has been pretty frantic for the Dartmouth Caring team since the start of lockdown.
The charity, which helps the most vulnerable in our community, swooped into action cancelling its lunch club and memory café and creating a meals on wheels service instead. Nick Hindmarsh is in charge: “The first week we distributed 90 meals and this increased to 500 when we got access to our market square kitchen seven days a week. We went on to do 4,000 in the first three months.” The team managed all this with the help of 80 new volunteers: “We actually had more than that offer to help and we had to turn them away. They came from all walks of life - many were furloughed and were looking for something to do with all their extra time, we also had a few young people from university.” As many of the people
Dartmouth Caring help are over 70 the team received many calls from people who were shielding and were struggling to get food and medicines. “Our volunteers made over 500 shopping and prescription trips during lockdown. The people we’ve been helping have said
that as well as needing vital supplies they’ve looked forward to seeing a friendly face at the door, even if it was just for five minutes.” With restricted access to other
kinds of support and medical care the charity also had a rise in demand for its specialist services like cancer and end of life care. “People lost their usual support networks and many were feeling
“Our volunteers made over 500 shopping and prescription trips during lockdown”
scared and anxious. They still needed help coping with serious life threatening illnesses and also dealing with important issues like power of attorney and deciding on resuscitation options. They aren’t nice things to think about but these decisions can’t stop because of Corona.” It isn’t just over 70s who need
help, the charity also supports people with financial problems and younger people with mental health issues: “We spent time ringing and visiting these people making sure
donations were a little sparse at first. Helper Anna Brownlow says they never knew what they were going to get: “Initially supplies were a challenge as donation points closed and supermarkets limited purchases. Eventually we obtained
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they were coping, and making sure they were accessing the right funding and also sign posting them to other local charities like the food bank.” The charity had to fork out over a thousand pounds on their own PPE even though they were promised packs for free from the Government. “Obviously going into people’s homes we need the whole kit - gloves, aprons, masks and hand sanitisers.” Nick says one positive that has come out of all this is a fresh batch of volunteers for the future: “Many of those who signed up to help during the crisis have now returned to work or university but they have said they would like to help again and we are thrilled to have some new blood on our list. All our volunteers have been great over the past few months, giving up their time to help others in need, and they have remained positive throughout.” •
Anna Brownlow, DARTMOUTH AND DISTRICT FOOD BANK. a supermarket delivery slot, though what actually arrived has been a lottery.” She says they helped those most in need with their own delivery service: “We have always been able to respond to need quickly and deliver a parcel within 24 hours, so it was easy to support people who have needed to isolate. We
he food bank continued to operate throughout lockdown even though
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