Residents in North Kent are supplying NHS staff with free food and treats to help them through their fight against the coronavirus outbreak.

The effort has been spearheaded by Joanne Richards, 44, a teacher from Manor Community Primary School in Swanscombe, who decided she wanted to take action when the spread of the disease forced schools across the country to shut.

With the help of her daughter Chloe – a student midwife – she launched a Facebook group "Thank You NHS Packages", to collect and deliver supplies to staff at Darent Valley Hospital; and the group has grown to become a large collective with drop-off points in Swanscombe, Greenhithe, Dartford, Gravesend and Crayford.

"The group actually started almost by accident," she said. "After our last day in school with the children, we were all feeling worried and helpless – as teachers we help our children, but there was nothing we could do. I was talking to a friend who said they had seen a post offering restaurant food that would go to waste if it was not given out. I commented that it’s a shame because nurses couldn’t get into the supermarkets to get food because their shifts are so long and by the time they actually got to the supermarket, there was nothing left. I knew this was true because my daughter, who is a student midwife, had friends who had not been able to get shopping for their families for days on end."

Joanne decided to collect some goods as a one off nice gesture, ad found a Facebook post drew some extra donation from friends, which she sorted into packages and delivered to the maternity department at Darent Valley Hospital, where her daughter knew friends who could deliver the goods.

"The ladies there were so happy to be thought of, " added Joanne. "They told me how difficult they were finding it to get what they need (this was before the NHS shopping times) and that it was nice to feel appreciated," added Joanne. "I got home that day to a barrage of messages offering donations that I just couldn’t turn down or waste – so I decided to carry on. My daughter helped me with the first few donations of fresh food from restaurants that were closing (we both have food hygiene certificates) and they were shipped out the same day. I continued to get more offers of donations, so I set up the group on Facebook, if I was going to do it, I might as well do it properly, and organised drop off points and helpers."

She has since been offered the use of St Peter and St Paul church hall, where helpers – including friends and colleagues – can work with safe distance between each other as they sort food to send out.

She added: "We are being very careful to make sure no non-essential journeys are made, other than deliveries which come into the criteria, and no one breaks the social distancing rules to keep each other safe. I have sanitiser and gloves for everyone!

"We have now delivered over 100 packages to hospitals, clinics, units, care homes and community care staff – all of whom were so pleased to have been thought of, and were overwhelmed that the wider public were thinking of them and given the boost that being appreciated for doing your job gives them.

"Donations are getting harder to bring in, but I think its even more important now than before as the rate of infection grows and our NHS/care staff take the strain of keeping everyone well and cared for."

For more information visit the Thank You NHS Packages Facebook group.

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