Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not know how to feed my family!

129 replies

Rosehip345 · 28/03/2020 17:25

We’re luckily not in the position yet. I can manage for another week I think.
I have four kids under 6, and I’m on my own. We don’t fit the criteria for vulnerable delivery slots, plus can’t actually get one.
How am I supposed to get any shopping?!!! Can’t take the kids in, can’t leave them outside, can’t get delivery!

OP posts:
spacepoppers · 28/03/2020 17:27

Do you have any friends or neighbours that can help you out with some essentials? It's not easy I know. Perhaps ask for help on local facebook groups? There have been a lot set up.

Mouseylu · 28/03/2020 17:28

Whereabouts r u? Is there a neighbours who might help? If you're near me I will help...

Throughabushbackwards · 28/03/2020 17:28

Are there any community led help groups operating in your area? I know of several in our area from seeing various Facebook posts that say to get in touch if you need help with shopping or errands.

dustyphoenix · 28/03/2020 17:32

Do you have a friend who can watch the kids for a few hours while you shop? Or can you join a Facebook support group and ask for a volunteer to go shopping for you?

parietal · 28/03/2020 17:33

join nextdoor.co.uk which is a neighbourhood website. you will probably find a community group who can bring shopping.

Original poster
Rosehip345 · 28/03/2020 17:33

There are groups but we’re very rural and anyone I know is isolated or vulnerable. I’ll have a nosey on Facebook and see if there’s anything set up

OP posts:
Parker231 · 28/03/2020 17:35

Check with friends and neighbors as to whether they can shop for you. I’ve done it this morning for two neighbors.

TuscanGreen · 28/03/2020 17:36

If you type in COVID 19 neighbourhood support and the area you are in on Facebook you hopefully will find a group close to you. Other ideas are to call the local church and ask if they can assist

DianaT1969 · 28/03/2020 17:38

Can you ask a friend or family member to meet you at the store and he/she stands outside near the pushchair while you shop? Everyone maintaining 2m distance?
Otherwise I think you'll have to shop in small, local stores for essentials and keep an eye on the pushchair outside, which isn't ideal.

blackteaplease · 28/03/2020 17:39

How rural are you? My local village pub is doing veg, salad and fruit boxes and the butcher is taking online orders for collection. You must be able to get food from somewhere.

If not contact your parish council. Ours are coordinating volunteers for deliveries

DianaT1969 · 28/03/2020 17:40

Do you have a car and usually drive? In which case the DC could stay strapped in to their car seats and your friend waits next to it. I would do this for a friend as part of my exercise walk no problem.

Freddiefox · 28/03/2020 17:43

If you drive leave the children in the car.
If not can your neighbour keep an eye out for them though a window?

caringcarer · 28/03/2020 17:44

I have found my delivery slot between 12 and 1 am. We tried all day every half hour. Got slot yesterday for April 15th. It might not help for next week but could for week after.

Homemadearmy · 28/03/2020 17:45

Facebook is your friend here. It will have you find places that deliver or do a order and collect service

SirChable · 28/03/2020 17:46

Are these any good to you?

www.morrisons.com/food-boxes/boxes

CalmdownJanet · 28/03/2020 17:47

Does your community have a facebook page? We are rural and our page has advertised help, delivery services from a local shop, our text alert system from the guards had offered help with shopping etc, do you know if any of those services are in your area?

Or someone you can do a list for and get them to shop for you?

SirChable · 28/03/2020 17:47

I’m sorry, I’ve just seen they’re out of delivery slots for the food boxes.

May be worth checking?

Whereabouts, roughly, are you OP?

Scruffyoak · 28/03/2020 17:47

What area?

IceCreamAndCandyfloss · 28/03/2020 17:47

If you’re rural there are likely farm shops etc doing deliveries.

OhCaptain · 28/03/2020 17:47

Why can’t you get a delivery slot? Not in the UK so don’t know the rules.

SirChable · 28/03/2020 17:47

Checking back, I mean.

tara66 · 28/03/2020 17:48

Your MP should have contacted you by now letting you know where you can get help if needed - also your local county/ town councillors - where I am Conservative Councillors have emailed me twice and Labour Councillors - once - telling me how to get help locally.

SoupDragon · 28/03/2020 17:49

Why can’t you get a delivery slot?

Demand is outstripping supply.

OhCaptain · 28/03/2020 17:49

Oh, so it’s not to do with certain criteria? Got confused by the OP!

Toomanycats99 · 28/03/2020 17:56

My parents are rural and their parish council has been great - they are now subscribed to a weekly delivery box from a farmer (meat dairy veg and fruit) organised with the parish council. Plus another delivery from local bakery and tea rooms. . In both their area and mine (London suburb) there seem to be lots of butchers / veg wholesalers doing deliveries.