For our regular members, volunteers and partners you will know that we operate 6 Community Grocer projects and No93 Café and Kitchen 52-weeks of the year supported by over 50 volunteers. We redistribute surplus food via our Grocers, provide reduced price meals and importantly connect people to services, activities and peer support networks.
This week we took the difficult decision, following the recent Government advice, to close our Grocers and No93 café & kitchen. Our immediate priority is to continue to serve those members that are most vulnerable and experiencing financial hardship and importantly as part of a coordinated GM / city-wide response.
But we are more than a food project and the Coronavirus response will need to account for the impact on mental health and wellbeing more than ever. And as always are working with our partners including One Manchester, Manchester City Council, MHCC and GMMH Trust along with our VCSE partners and friends.
Our team is working hard on a new service during these difficult and unprecedented times. We are finalising our plans to provide a targeted and referral service of ‘Life in a Box’ for vulnerable people who are self-isolating with no social networks and or experiencing financial difficulty. The delivered box will include food, essential toiletries including feminine hygiene products, items like books along with information on additional services. We will call the person to establish their needs, cooking equipment available and provide a chat to provide information and assurance, with follow-up befriending calls and supportive signposting via the telephone.
Want to help?
Currently we are ok for volunteers. We have over 50 trained and experienced volunteers across Manchester so we can provide a safe service for everyone involved.
You can donate to our ‘stock-pot’ that will be used to purchase food and essential items to go in our ‘life in a box’. You can donate at https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/lifeinabox
And the best way to help others is to help yourself first and stay safe by following the Government guidelines:
We will be providing regular updates and links to other essential services across our platforms.
Keep up to date on our facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/HMHCmcr/
Our website: http://www.healthymehealthycommunities.co.uk/
And our twitter accounts: https://twitter.com/HMHCmcr, https://twitter.com/HMHCcg