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Original poster

Can I deliver food to elderly parents living 2 hours away

31 replies

LucyLatimer · 09/04/2020 07:14

Sorry if this has been done, both parents are over 70 and can’t get a food delivery slot, but are 2 hours away. Could I travel to them this weekend to leave some shopping at the end of their drive? I’m worried I may get stopped if I try to drive that sort of distance

OP posts:
Geometricprince · 09/04/2020 07:16

IMO you should be able to, its an essential journey, however a friend of my Mum's tried similar and was stopped by the police and turned back. Is there a Facebook page local to them that might be able to help out? Loads around here.

Scruffyoak · 09/04/2020 07:19

I wouldnt because you can probably find a local scheme to help. I called my nans local co op and they called her and delivered it for free. They have also set up a weekly system of delivering her the same things

lubeybooby · 09/04/2020 07:21

check out local fb groups for their area, the council fb pages for their area, and food bank fb pages for their area - here all those places have details of the local food delivery schemes/volunteers etc

GCAcademic · 09/04/2020 07:23

My parents co-op are also doing free deliveries for the over 70s and vulnerable. There are also lots of other local shops (farm shops, butchers, bakeries, etc) doing the same. You need to get on your parents’ local Facebook page and ask what help is available.

KatherineJaneway · 09/04/2020 07:32

You will likely find some local shops doing deliveries. Or look on their local Facebook group for offers of help. Or try this organisation for local help: covidmutualaid.org/

Original poster
LucyLatimer · 09/04/2020 07:32

Thanks I’ll try that. Mum thinks she might have got a slot this morning, but it’s good to have other ideas for them

OP posts:
madcatladyforever · 09/04/2020 07:35

You are not allowed to do that but if it is their only way of getting food at all which it probably is then just do it.
I'm working as a district medical professional and there are people out there desperate who can't get food from anywhere.

Parker231 · 09/04/2020 07:37

Could their local friends and neighbours not help? I’m doing shopping for two local elderly neighbours. I ring them for their shopping list and get it at the same time as our shopping and then leave it in their porch.

Grumpyoldpersonwithcats · 09/04/2020 07:49

In similar vein I did a delivery to my sister (over 70) an hour away last week. She lives alone, has a few health issues restricting mobility, doesn't drive and does not have internet access. She was very grateful for delivery of bulky & heavy items (loo rolls, kitchen towels, bottled water, bleach, cooking oil etc.)
OP - do it, Helping the vulnerable is one of the reasons we are allowed out.

AJPTaylor · 09/04/2020 08:21

If my mum lived 2 hrs away rather than 6 I would do it.

GoodbyeRosie · 09/04/2020 08:24

You might as well, most people are doing what they want anyway.

zafferana · 09/04/2020 08:28

There will be local services that can deliver to them. My DPs live in a rural part of England and they've found a local farm shop to deliver meat, cheese, dry goods and a local fruit and veg wholesaler who is delivering to homes of people in isolation. They need to ask around their friends (by phone or internet obviously) to see where other people are getting their food from. Supermarkets are not the only option. Alternatively, either you or they ring around local food shops and ask if they are delivering.

iVampire · 09/04/2020 08:30

I would see if someone else can shop for them this weekend (as clamping down on travel has been foreshadowed in several parts of the country)

There are lots of volunteer groups who will do tasks such as this.

You could then go in a couple of weeks - restrictions may not have been lifted, but the policing of them may not be as extensive when it’s big a holiday weekend

Delivering care might count as essential. Delivering food is not essential, as other local options are available

screwcovid19 · 09/04/2020 08:30

You are allowed to provide support to vulnerable people. So it is allowed.

PerditaProvokesEnmity · 09/04/2020 08:43

As others have said, are you sure you've exhausted all the local possibilities?

I've spent entire nights going through lists of food delivery services close to vulnerable relatives. No slots at any supermarket. Independent suppliers overwhelmed and not taking on new customers. Signing up to shops I've never considered before ...

So far I've scored one supermarket delivery, one veg box and one department store courier delivery for them. Whether all that time and effort and various vans hurtling around is better than one four hour round trip is really impossible to measure ...

Tara336 · 09/04/2020 08:44

I have the same problem, my parents are 100 miles away and DF has just finished cancer treatment. They are not computer savvy and I’ve not been able to get a delivery slot for them. All neighbours are elderly so no help there and DB is nearby but a lazy, selfish idiot who won’t help. I should think the journey I normally do on a weekly basis to check on them will probably be a lot easier then the 2 hours it normally takes.

Purplewithred · 09/04/2020 08:48

Ask their gp’s surgery to refer them to an NHS volunteer who will do their shopping for them.

Nquartz · 09/04/2020 08:48

Following the post with the COVID mutual aid link, try searching online their local area with covid mutual aid to see if there are Facebook groups set up, I think they all have a similar naming convention.

Or try local taxi companies Facebook pages, a few here are delivering bread & milk.

Local butchers here are also delivering milk & bread. Local fruit & veg shops are delivering, local dairy farm.

You might need to get deliveries from a few different shops but should be able to get most things they need

AdriannaP · 09/04/2020 08:50

It’s not a sustainable solution in the long term especially if the lockdown rules tighten. I would also find a local delivery service and pay by transfer or card. Tons of help in local Facebook groups too.

GreyishDays · 09/04/2020 08:50

Have you looked at availability for the Morrison’s boxes? They keeping getting full and then opening up the next day so worth checking back.

GreyishDays · 09/04/2020 08:51

Oh and there is also a M&S one, which is a tinned/dried one.

PestymcPestFace · 09/04/2020 08:54

Get onto the local town council. Lots are arranging food box deliveries. Our local one has so many donations from supermarkets and food producers that the £15 box is exceedingly good value, really would feed two people for the week.

bringthegin · 09/04/2020 08:57

Tough one, I was in the same boat with my DS. Finally managed to find a grocery wholesalers and a butchers to deliver to her, it's doesn't cover everything she wants but it's the best I can do.

Definitely look on the local facebook pages for the area. People are being pretty good at sharing who is delivering and who is not. Lots of catering suppliers and wholesalers have stepped into the breach. No time slots - rather a it will arrive on a Monday or Tuesday etc.

Lindy2 · 09/04/2020 08:57

You could order them a Morrisons food box. Order and pay for it online and it will be delivered to their front door. It has enough essentials in it to last 2 people for about a week.

PerditaProvokesEnmity · 09/04/2020 09:14

Interesting ... I've been checking Morrison's food box site intermittently, and had no joy. Now they appear to have slots! (Which I fortunately don't need.)