Hi all,
To help with communication, we've set up an email list for all the people who've offered to help others in Milton during the Coronavirus outbreak.
We now have over 130 volunteers available to help their neighbours, with over 20 requests for help so far matched to volunteers. As you'll have seen in the news, the number of cases of Covid-19 is expected to rise dramatically in the coming weeks, so it feels like this is the tip of the iceberg so far.
At the moment, we're concentrating on making sure that we can handle the requests for food, prescriptions, dog walking, post and phone calls. We've had lots of other suggestions, but as we're all volunteers, trying to juggle this around day jobs and in some cases looking after children at home, or supporting close friends, this group will focus on making sure that no essential needs are overlooked.
We're also trying to keep to the spirit of the law, not just the letter of it, minimising interactions between people wherever possible - so, while in other circumstances, we'd love to help people (e.g.) share jigsaws, books, and help with newspaper deliveries, we don't feel that's appropriate in this situation, as we need to everything possible to slow the spread of this virus. However, don't underestimate the power of a phone call - please do call your neighbours for a chat, or help them to connect with others online if they're unsure how to do that.
If you need to get in touch with the co-ordinating group (in no particular order, Mary-Ann Johnson, David Chamberlin, Anna Bradnam, Jane Coston, Chris Thomas, Kathy English, Jackie Metcalfe, Maria Gloag, Harrie McEwan and Linda Henderson), email
covid19@lists.milton.org.uk.
We'll try to keep you all updated with the latest information as we get it, but in the meantime, hope you all stay well, and if you start showing any symptoms (fever, dry cough), please let us know straight away, so we can find alternative volunteers as needed.
Thanks!
Mary-Ann