Staff and volunteers at a Sheppey charity are working hard to keep older people stocked with food and company during the coronavirus outbreak.

Age UK Sheppey, which is based in Trinity Road, Sheerness, is providing its members with the most basic needs including food, home help, information and advice and companionship.

The day centre was closed on Tuesday, March 17, and call volumes to the service have been increasing every day with questions from people who use the service, their family and carers and other residents in need of help.

Chief officer Kerry Moore said: “We are all doing everything possible to meet their needs during these challenging times and would ask for local businesses to work in conjunction with Age UK Sheppey so we can achieve the best possible outcomes for those living in our communities.

“The coronavirus outbreak has placed a huge strain on our resources meaning we are all having to adapt quickly to the way in which we currently deliver services.

“With all our day services currently suspended for the foreseeable future, this is having a real impact resulting in tremendous reduction of monthly income.

“Nobody knows how long this will go on for and our charity reserves will not sustain such losses indefinitely.”

"The coronavirus outbreak has placed a huge strain on our resources."

The charity relies heavily on grants from different organisations and fundraising activities to support its services.

Teams are working with Kent County Council’s team of community wardens every day to find the more vulnerable older residents and see how they can be supported.

To help, the charity is appeal for donations of fresh foods, suitable ingredients which can be used to prepare hot meals for delivery.

It also urgently needs non-perishable food, toiletries, cleaning products and anything else that can be used including crossword books.

Call 01795 662562 to help.

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