'Social movement' delivers thousands of food boxes to people in need in South Northamptonshire

A new 'social movement' has seen thousands of food boxes given to people in South Northamptonshire who cannot leave their homes due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Food that would have otherwise gone to waste has been collected, sorted and delivered to those in need thanks to Northamptonshire Community Larders.

Around 500 volunteers came forward at the start of the crisis to ensure every village is covered, with plans to expand to Northampton and Daventry district underway.

Founder Miranda Wixon said: "We started with nothing so it was a great leap of faith for everyone but they just wanted to help - it's been amazing."

Miranda, who usually works as a Queen's nurse, was working with Northamptonshire County Council to introduce community larders from June and volunteering for an Oxfordshire-based charity distributing food waste from supermarkets.

Within a week of lockdown starting, she had brought the plan forward to start providing for people who are shielding or cannot get to a shop for whatever reason.

“When the lockdown for coronavirus hit, our plans for the community larders were significantly challenged and I was concerned about the safety of the volunteers," she said.

"Lorraine, from Health-works, called me and reminded me how people needed food now.

"Ali the town clerk from Brackley Town Council offered the town hall, Jeanette at SNVB offered their DBS-trained drivers, Kelly and Emma from Grand Union offered online training and further locations and so within 10 minutes the community larder was ready to go."

Around 3,500 boxes of nutritional and balanced food were delivered in April, while Miranda expects to hand out around 1,000 this week alone.

Miranda believes the rural communities are in particular need as services are spread more thinly and there is less funding than in the urban areas.

"I really want this to be a rural model as I live in a village and far too much of the effort goes to the towns but there's a lot of people, particularly older people, who can't get out and are stuck in the village," she said.

"But that's why this model has been so amazing as there's a person in each village and they can work with neighbours to know what is needed.

"It feels more like a social movement than anything else as people have just come together to help those in need."

South Northamptonshire MP Andrea Leadsom has even got involved by highlighting the scheme and making deliveries, while Daventry MP Chris Heaton-Harris has offered his support too.

Miranda hopes the county council, and future unitary councils, will continue to back the project to keep feeding people beyond the coronavirus crisis.

However, she expects the need to continue even when lockdown restrictions are relaxed as some families may be unable to support each other if someone has to work.

"It's been an amazing experience being part of something where people are so positive and work seven days a week at all hours - all to help the community," she said.

For more information about the scheme, call Miranda on 07974 919221, email [email protected] or visit facebook.com/sofea.northants.