British Gas engineers will deliver food parcels to vulnerable people to help struggling food banks
BRITISH Gas engineers will be sent out to deliver food parcels to vulnerable people to help food banks struggling to cope with the increased demand during the coronavirus pandemic.
The energy giant announced the new initiative to support thousands of food banks across the UK.
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British Gas engineers are expected to face a drastic drop in jobs to attend to and will only be responding to emergency callouts, so workers have been encouraged to help deliver food to the vulnerable.
The initiative is with the Trussell Trust, a charity that manages 1,200 food banks across the nation.
To prevent the spread of coronavirus by limiting contact, volunteers will deliver food parcels on doorsteps.
The Trussell Trust normally has an army of 28,000 volunteers, but many of those are over 70 and isolating at home because of the extra risks of health complications from coronavirus.
British Gas has stepped in to help fill in the gaps, and is hoping its workforce of 6,000 engineers will help deliver around 50,000 food parcels a month.
They will also help collecting food donations and putting the packages together.
In only 48 hours more than 1,750 staff have signed up.
Chief exec of the Trussell Trust Emma Revie said they were working around the clock to make sure food banks got the support they needed to continue to provide food.
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She said: "Being able to deliver food bank parcels to people’s homes will really help us ensure everyone’s safety - but it’s a big change to the way food banks normally work.
“That’s why it’s so important to have the support of British Gas.
“Everyone should be able to afford their own food and we’ll be continuing our work to end the need for food banks, but right now more people than ever are likely to need a food bank’s help.
More on coronavirus
Managing director of field operations at British Gas Matthew Bateman said: "Many of our people are already helping their communities by volunteering at food banks, getting shopping for vulnerable customers and even using their skills to make face masks to give to NHS workers.
"We are in a unique position to help with our nationwide reach and with the third largest fleet in the UK."
After debt collections were suspended, bailiffs signed up to volunteer with the NHS instead, and are also out helping deliver food to the most vulnerable.
Supermarket giant Morrisons has also launched a system to deliver essential food packages to hospital carparks for all of the hardworking NHS staff.