Is door-to-door leafletting a good idea

[candycane222]

Our local mutual aid group is looking for volunteers to drop a leaflet with various local contact names and numbers for assistance with food, prescriptions etc. I have been approached by someone I know to ask if I would help.

Is this really a good idea? You will have to open and close gates, touch letterboxes etc to do it.

They said they thought it was worth it if it saved the life of an elderly person but surely, there are unlikely to be elderly people who aren't in touch with other people in the course of their normal lives, even if it is only the doctor and wherever they normally get their food etc from? Would there be many people who didn't even know someone with internet access who cold find help for them? I am a bit stuck to know if I should help. I have been being really really careful and hardly been out at all, avoiding getting within 2 m of everyone, etc -all of us in the house have. This feels like I'd be undoing that?

It is quite a spread-out area and people are going out in cars together to do this - if I agreed at least I wouldn't be doing that, could do it on foot. But is it really worth doing at all?

Would love to hear thoughts. I'd be willing to go out an help with a specific real need, but this??

Rubbish idea.
Also quite patronising. Just because you're older doesn't mean you don't have a support network.

As long as you're sensible it should be fine. No different to being a postman.

Obviously stay away from people, wash your hands or wear gloves if you can.

Don't do it if you're in the high risk group though.

Also quite patronising. Just because you're older doesn't mean you don't have a support network

Bizarre and warped priorities... so it’s better not to risk patronising some older people who have support networks, than to do something that would provide a network to those that don’t.

Hmmm thanks Boat. There did seem to be a tinge of 'doing something for the sake of doing something' about it :/

Would there be many people who didn't even know someone with internet access who cold find help for them?

Most will have some kind of support... some won’t though, or at least won’t have anyone close enough to support (family many miles away). It’s a good thing to do.

That's what it sounds like to me Candy. There's a lot of unnecessary show-boating going on. All we've been asked to do is to stay home. Shouldn't be too tricky.

My concern was about the risk of coming into too-close contact with people on pavements etc, spreading virus from one person't gate to the next, etc. - and thus imperriling more people than I help. I guess we can't know can we, but I just find it hard to believe people would be so cut off that they would have no-one to turn to to look for help. But reason for posting was to see what others though, so relly helpful to get replies.

I'm not high-risk, but I am over 60 (albeit not much)

My parents are in their late 80s, so are all their friends. I am over 100 miles away. They are worried about relying on neighbours, can't get a shopping delivery slot and worried about how they're going to carry on.

If you put a leaflet like that through their door, they'd be delighted. Right now, they're feeling pretty abandoned.

Ah thanks Clymene, that's a helpful insight.

I do this, my area set up an adopt a post code system. Lots of elderly in my road and I've picked up prescriptions and shopping for quite a few.
So many people don't have the lifelines you seem to think they do!

Ive also had calls and messages from some saying they don't need any help but thanking me for being there just in case

I would be delighted if someone posted me a leaflet, I have spent days trying to get food etc delivered as I have chronic conditions, but not on the shielding list .

The man who crashed into the nurse had been self isolating before needing to go out for food. Sadly passed away.
www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/coronavirus-hero-nurse-waited-five-21770083
I think it is a good thing to do. The post is still coming so it must be acceptable to go to people's doors. I agree a but not car sharing though. keep up your distancing.

Both my parents would also appreciate this.

They have a support network, but none of us are local and all have children. They both have internet access, but are not confident with using it for online shopping and can't get a slot anyway.

They would both (different parts of the country) appreciate something like this. Someone local who could pick up a prescription and a pint of milk.

I imagine there are lots of people in similar circumstances. You don't have to be all alone in the world with no internet access to be struggling at the moment.

Thanks for the really helpful replies. I was a bit dubious about the wisdom/motives as some of the group members are a bit officious at times, but it does sound as though the leaflet itself is probably worth distributing.

@IndieTara I've had a similar response, more people contacting me to thank me or willing to volunteer than those who actually need help.

My motivation was that it would at the very least provide peace of mind even if they dont need the help. The problem is, so many people are using online deliveries so those who really need it can't get slots.
People are putting themselves at risk because they can't get online. Digital isolation is a real thing.

I have dropped 2 leaflets round, the first offering support. The second as things have progressed more specific help. For example local shops who will take payment over the phone and volunteers can collect and drop off on doorsteps.

All deliveries have been made by people wearing gloves. In our village all are delivered by hand no need to drive. There is also a local coordination group we have registered with. They know the communications sent out and how many volunteers. They have now asked for details to provide ID cards so if we are stopped we can show who we are, also so they can make use of us and ask us to complete local tasks.

We are however as a group reluctant to keep sending out leaflets. We believe those who need us have our details now and the central team know who we are.
It isnt just the risk of deliveries, but the genuine worry of those who dont want to handle post and so too much information will simply worry them.

Its a hard balance, but get at least one leaflet out, give people a phone number not just a facebook group or email address

Agree it's worth distributing as some people's normal support network may not be working due to people being sick or isolating, businesses shutting down etc. With regard to safety do be careful with hygiene but it is pretty safe outdoors when it's not busy.

Jesus Christ.

NO.

I and one of my neighbours did a leaflet drop for our street last Sunday. It had our mobile numbers on (and first names and house numbers) and offered to help with shopping/collecting prescriptions. We've both had a couple of calls to say thank you but they are fine (hopefully they have kept hold of phone number in case needed in future).

I had one call from a 78 yr old neighbour who needed prescription, which I was able to collect for her. When I dropped it off she said she had been planning to get it herself but when on the phone to her son she mentioned the leaflet and he encouraged her to call one of us.

A local group has been encouraging well intended volunteers to put leaflets with their names and phone numbers and email addresses through people's letterboxes. Lovely idea, but you have no idea who you are giving your personal information to.

The NHS app and established charities (eg Age UK locally) have systems for putting people in touch without broadcasting personal details and with a degree of vetting. I would be pointing my vulnerable relatives in their direction.

I don't want a leaflet poked through my door by someone who is still active in the community and may have coronavirus. Foolishness.

We did it locally. Last weekend the last went out, so before lockdown,
We've had a fair few requests, some of them from fairly vulnerable people.

I think they found it very reassuring that there was a number/email they could use. We've done prescriptions, food, gluten free etc.

My mum is 80 and at a distance. If my sister is unable to get out to her I don't know who else will.

Many elderly people only know other elderly people. We do need a system in place.

We e had a lot of comments in our local community page from people who have elderly relatives in our area but the commenter themselves live far away and cannot offer assistance. They're seeking help from locals and lots have people have shared screenshots of leaflets we've received offering such help.

I think it's a great idea to distribute information. I'd advise you wear gloves. Also take a wooden spoon as a lot of people have very unforgiving letterboxes (learned from experience!) and the spoon helps you to poke open the letterbox to slip the leaflet through.

Well the PM is writing to every home in Britian so the government doesn't seem that concerned about the virus being spread on the post.

We also did so last weekend. Gloves, handwashing, social distancing etc. Some of the less typically, as well as previously identified, vulnerable households have become isolated and need support, if not now perhaps in a few weeks' time, and lots of volunteers have come forward.