Businesses reach out amid coronvirus crisis

Many supermarkets, including Kelly’s Eurospar and Spar stores and McCloskey’s Mace, among others, are offering free deliveries to anyone who cannot make it to their stores or are wary about venturing out.

Major supermarkets are also providing dedicated hours during which those who are vulnerable, elderly (State pension age and above) or are family carers can shop in a quieter environment.

Iceland has set aside 8-9am for elderly customers and Tesco will have dedicated time in store for over 65s and family carers up to 9am on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Sainsburys has said it will prioritise online deliveries for those who are vulnerable or elderly.

Locally, a number of groups are co-ordinating to provide services and Facebook pages have been set up, which are highlighting what is available and where. These include ‘Your Derry’ which was set up by ‘Pure Derry’ and ‘Derry Covid-19 ‘ community support.

Ciaran Murray of Your Derry said the page was set up to ‘inform people properly’ in what is an ever-changing situation.

A number of businesses have also expressed incredible generosity, including Marble Hill Skincare, based in Skeoge Industrial Estate and Moji.

Marble Hill Skincare has donated, free of charge, 500 hand soaps to charities across the city, including the Simon Community, Foyle Foodbank and Women’s Aid, among others. Joe W Doherty, General Manager, told the Journal the company wanted to play its part when they saw the panic buying underway across the city and beyond.  “As soon as we saw everything that’s going on and of course, due to the fact we make soap, we wanted to help.”

They reached out to charities through Pat Ramsey’s page and have had a great response. 

Moji, also in Skeoge, is offering free meals and delivery to the elderly. Mia Ling, owner, said she saw the Portaferry Hotel undertake a similar initiative and thought it was a brilliant idea. While they are a pan-Asian deli, they are offering ‘plain’ meals, such as turkey and ham to those who may be in self-isolation, or whose families cannot visit them. They have had a strong response so far, and while the service is free, many are giving donations. Delivery is twice a week - Monday and Thursday and if someone needs enough meals to cover them until the next delivery, that can be accommodated.

Popular Brandywell shop Harkin’s, on the Lecky Road, said it was trying to work out a delivery system for older persons who need them during the COVID-19 emergency.

“We are currently trying to come up with solutions for this COVID19 situation. Ideally we do not want to close, especially when locals need us but we do realise it will be difficult. As it stands we are business as usual. We wear gloves and use sanitiser.

“As the situation may get worse, we are considering a locked door approach: letting a few people in, lock up, let them go and repeat. Our owner is currently trying to work out a delivery service to our older patrons and I myself would deliver groceries also,” the shop’s manager said.

The intention for now is to stay open for as long as possible.