Cancelling food parcels for the vulnerable

JDPower

The_Hawk said:

It seems such a shame when there must be many who desperately need such support.

Find a local group or food bank to donate them to, that's what I've done. Found a local group of volunteers set up when lockdown started that are collecting food to deliver to the vulnerable and elderly who aren't getting parcels, they even collect it from me. And demand at food banks has shot up, so they will be more than grateful to receive it

Crater

The problem is that there doesn't seem to be any official information about not losing your supermarket priority if you decline the food boxes. It's almost like they don't want you to know ... But my local volunteers say they will come and collect anything we don't need. That will be a lot of tins of tomato soup ... but we are grateful, even though we are beginning to get some supermarket stuff through, because the food parcel has some fresh fruit in it and carrots and those have been hard to get.

Umiamz

I spoke to one of the coordinators at the Council for those who are shielding (she had full write access to my government registration) and she said that the supermarkets were given an initial list to use and the only updates sent will be new registrations to the database. She "guaranteed" that de-registering from food packages will not affect supermarket priority access.

Umiamz

Umiamz said:

I spoke to one of the coordinators at the Council for those who are shielding (she had full write access to my government registration) and she said that the supermarkets were given an initial list to use and the only updates sent will be new registrations to the database. She "guaranteed" that de-registering from food packages will not affect supermarket priority access.

Just received a text from GOVUK confirming that they've cancelled my food packages. It also says "This will not affect your eligibility for a supermarket priority delivery slot or any slots you already have in place."

BooJewels

That's good news @Umiamz - our box is due today and I've pinned a big note to the door.  Last week they came before 07:00am, so I missed them, so I don't know if they've already been today and saw the note - I didn't hear anything.  If it retains the supermarket slot, I'll re-register on the Gov web site then.  Thanks for the update - I hate wasting this resource if I can avoid it.  I've made a money donation to a foodbank in its stead and the tea, coffee and biscuits went to my husband's chemo unit as they've no volunteers providing refreshments at the moment.

frizzz1

I THOUGHT THE VUNERABLE FOOD PARCELS  THAT THE GOVT SET UP HAD BEEN STOPPED  MY NEIGHBOUR NOT HAD 1 DELIVERED FOR 2 WEEKS NOW  

BooJewels

I had thought they were supposed to continue every week whilst shielding - we got one last Wednesday.  Not seen them today, so I'm hoping that they came early and saw my note, so haven't left a box this time.

JDPower

Umiamz said:

Just received a text from GOVUK confirming that they've cancelled my food packages. It also says "This will not affect your eligibility for a supermarket priority delivery slot or any slots you already have in place."

Same here

DJWilliams

I am disabled and my GP placed me on the risk register - Vulnerable and high risk. I had a box on a Friday for 5 weeks then the Department phoned and said after discussion that I would continue having the Food Box, but no box came on Friday. I phoned local council who system was not updated :-(  Sad they can no communicate. Due to the Food box being stopped, I assume now I do not have to isolate or be on the vulnerable and high risk register - I am free to go out! ( I wish!)

sallywallydoodlealltheday

DJWilliams said:

I am disabled and my GP placed me on the risk register - Vulnerable and high risk. I had a box on a Friday for 5 weeks then the Department phoned and said after discussion that I would continue having the Food Box, but no box came on Friday. I phoned local council who system was not updated :-(  Sad they can no communicate. Due to the Food box being stopped, I assume now I do not have to isolate or be on the vulnerable and high risk register - I am free to go out! ( I wish!)

Have you still got one of the delivery notes?
When my OH’s box stopped after two weeks I rang Bid food who brought his and they informed me that the Government remove some people from the list without giving a reason. However fairly recently someone rang from the shielding dept and asked if he needed them to be restarted. Whilst we’re grateful, the box content is getting a little samey. Hope you manage to get them started again.