How the heck do I get groceries to my parents?

[Blurpblorp]

They live 100 miles away from me. Both in mid- seventies, Dad had (has?) cancer and mum has diabetes and has always had a weak respiratory system (whenever she gets any kind of cough or cold it hits her hard). They're not registered for any online supermarket shopping and Sainsbury's aren't accepting new registrations. I've tried to call their helpline but even that says try back later. All Asda and Tesco's delivery and even click and collect slots in their area are booked up for the foreseeable future. I'm considering doing a big shop and driving up there just to drop it off at their door but scared in case I infect them. Also am I likely to be challenged by the Police as to why I'm driving?

They don't quite qualify for the GOV.UK vulnerable people category which means Sainsbury's would prioritise them (and anyway they're not even registered there).

There is perhaps someone nearby that I can ask to pop some essentials round but I know my parents would get annoyed with me doing this... What can I do? Any tips at all? They're quite cavallier about it and I'm scared they'll venture into a busy supermarket and catch it.

I have same problem with my mum who is housebound and just came out of hospital. I have a delivery slot for Monday that I secured a while back but can't get another at all. The hospital social worker said a local mosque was offering to get and deliver shopping and collect medication. Like others have said try looking on Facebook. I hope this helps.

Amazon prime now is available in some areas. They're doing deliveries from Morissons or from Amazon pantry. £15 minimum spend.

Definitely Facebook groups in their area

Morrisons are doing a food box for £35 with all the essentials which feeds two people for a week - fresh veg, bread, meat, milk, tinned stuff.

You still have the queue online but unlike still the other big supermarkets Morrisons show where you are in the queue which is helpful. I ordered a box for my parents earlier this week and waited for 40 mins but my parents will get their box tomorrow.

The box is picked from their central warehouses and not from stores and delivered via DPD so you don't have to worry about securing online spots.

Great advice on here, even in our little town the Facebook COVID help groups are working very hard and very well and everyone mucking in. We also have some cafes who are delivering "ready meals" locally (within a 3 mile radius, some of them), many at cost only so that might be worth looking into. I did also pass a Deliveroo courier today.

Our village has a Facebook group, helping vulnerable and the elderly with shopping. Local shops are doing delivery, butchers, small convenience store.

Amazon Prime Now - brilliant

Ive managed to get 2 tesco slots in a row by going on at 12am. 12am this morning i got a slot for the 22nd april. If you go on tonight it should be for 23rd. In the mean time id be dropping food off

Definitely worth trying a local church or maybe the Salvation Army. Local Facebook groups too. There are so many people who want to help.
If they are SW London I will happily help.

Definitely local facebook sites or could you post on their nextdoor site and ask for advice? We have alot of local shops/delis/cafes/restaurants that are now delivering to the local area.

Chips that website is fantastic, thanks for recommending it, perhaps it could be highlighted on every thread for people who are struggling to get shopping?

Morrison’s boxes
Booths (if they are in the north west) boxes
Deliveroo - they deliver from some coops and spars and starting with M&A -won’t be a full shop but cover the basics
Amazon prime now
Local vegetable box schemes or farms
Milkman (some do eggs/bread too)
Local butchers etc are delivering in our areas

(M&A should say m&s)

Almost all my local independent fruit & veg shops, butchers and bakeries are now doing home delivery of some sort. Often just phone them up with your order and they'll leave it on your doorstep. Forget about the supermarkets and try any small independent shops near your parents.

Does amazon prime do perishables?

Try Milk & More, veg box schemes, Waitrose. As an immediate solution I would just drive down and drop off a good stock of essentials. Provided that you take sensible precautions (clean hands, new bags), I can't see why this would be any more dangerous than an online delivery.

Tesco slots renew at midnight. Log on at 11.45 for the queue, keep your eye on it at all times and be quick. I've got two slots this way

Our local Help the Aged charity is organising food boxes you can sign people up for (you pay). Local Facebook community pages also organise help.

Amazon prime now deliver fruit, veg, milk etc think the stock is from Morrison’s and not available in every area

a 200 mile round trip for groceries at a time when we are supposed to be not making unnecessary journeys... Are you sure?

I appreciate it is a very pressing issue but there must be local charities who are trying to cover this shortfall, or even a paid company that was providing this service locally would be better than having someone make a 200 mile round trip in a car

Their council should have listings. My parents are a similar age and have signed up for everything.

You counter thr above, though, we have very few locsl independent greengrocers and butchers and all but one is shut the one still open has stalled all deliveries because they don't have the capacity.

As pp's have said most councils in the U.K. have organised community volunteer groups.

They all have Facebook accounts - just search for groups where your parents live.

I live in a semi- rural village and even we have volunteers who are offering to get shopping/prescriptions/daily phone calls to vulnerable people locally.

There are notices all over the village with numbers to call/Facebook/website details.

All the volunteers have been registered by the council and we've all had to watch a safeguarding tutorial.

Every volunteer is more than happy to help people self isolating/being shielded/vulnerable. We see it as an opportunity to do our bit and help the community as a whole.

If you can contact the group near your parents they will help you (we've had quite a few requests from people in your position via email/Facebook and are always quick to respond and arrange a private call to discuss what's needed).

I wonder if we should be surprised at the the lack of capacity in the supermarket delivery system?
I seem to remember reading that deliveries are not particularly economical for the supermarkets that they would prefer drop them but can't because they would lose out to the competition.
That being the case (?) it must have cost them quite a lot to have to expand so quickly?

Facebook groups and also Young Farmers in some areas. I got a lovely woman tin get essentials for elderly relatives via Facebook.

However, my dad has told be ONLY supermarket deliveries, so hell mend him, he’ll have to wait.