Coronavirus: Selfless pub workers hand out care packages to those in self-isolation
20 March 2020, 14:39
A pub in Liverpool is handing out hundreds of care packages to people self isolating despite making little money as people socially distance themselves due to coronavirus.
The Bootle Arms started making the parcels for the elderly and vulnerable who have self isolated after showing symptoms of Covid-19.
Each package contains dry food, toilet roll, sanitary products and other everyday items.
The demand for them has grown since Monday and now they have said they need more volunteers to continue the service.
Managing Director at the pub Grant Pinches told LBC News: “When the over-70’s were told to self-isolate, me and my partner decided to do what we could to help those who don’t have friends and family and get these essentials to them.
“It’s just gotten a bit too much with the amount of requests we’ve received so we’ve ended up having to reach out and ask for support and the local community have been brilliant.”
Grant and his partner Hannah have been delivering the packages on their own.
After Grant shared the post on Facebook, the demand has grown for them, with people stuck in Spain asking for them for when they return to the UK.
Grant said: “It’s not just the elderly that are struggling to get to the shop. There’s disabilities, people with mental health problems, people that are just struggling day to day as it is and this virus is piling the pressure on those worries that they are already harbouring at home.
“It’s affected us all but I felt it was time to give a bit back. People come to my pub, spend their hard earned money, so it was time for me to give something back to them in hard times like this.”
Grant has also set up a GoFundMe site to help raise money for people in self-isolation and to go towards costs to help him and the pub continue to provide the care packages.
If you want to help the Bootle Inn, you can do so by clicking here
