Skip to main content
Department for Communities Department for Communities An Roinn Pobal Depairtment fur Commonities

Main navigation

  • Home
  • Topics
  • Publications
  • Consultations
  • Contact

Translation help

Translate this page

Select a language

  • Arabic — عربي
  • Chinese (Simplified) — 中文简体
  • Chinese (Traditional) — 中文繁體
  • Dutch — Nederlands
  • Filipino — Filipino
  • French — Français
  • German — Deutsch
  • Hungarian — Magyar
  • Irish — Gaeilge
  • Italian — Italiano
  • Latvian — Latviešu
  • Lithuanian — Lietuvių kalba
  • Polish — Polski
  • Portuguese — Português
  • Romanian — Română
  • Russian — Русский
  • Slovak — Slovenčina
  • Spanish — Español
  • Ukrainian — Українська
  • Hargey Announces Thousands to Benefit from Food Parcels Service

    Topics:
    • Social inclusion, 
    • Support for children, 
    • Voluntary and community

    Date published: 5 April 2020

    Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey MLA has announced that in the coming days a new weekly service commence which will see 10,000 food boxes being delivered to the most vulnerable in society during the COVID-19 lockdown.

    Food parcel infographic
    Food Parcel Infographic

    This support by the Department for Communities will allow a weekly box of mainly non-perishable goods to be delivered directly to the door of vulnerable people who have been notified to shield by their GPs and who cannot afford food and do not have access to local support networks. These boxes will also be available to those who are not shielding, but are in critical need of food.

    The Department is leading the initiative that has been made possible through collaborative working with Health Trusts, local councils, the Voluntary and Community sector and the private sector.

    Minister Hargey said:

    “This vital service will ensure that those most in need in our society who do not have a support network of family and friends to help them through this emergency will have access to basic food supplies.

    “Not only will it ensure that the most vulnerable do not go without but it will allow those at risk of social isolation to see a friendly face and know that we as a society have not forgotten about them.

    “There’s a tremendous amount of goodwill and generosity in action across our society, which is very welcome at this challenging time.”

    Paying tribute to all the partners involved in getting the service up and running, the Minister added:

    “This is an example of genuine collaboration across the public, private and community sectors. My officials are working with local food suppliers, local councils and the community and voluntary sector to get this vital service in place.

    “With social distancing and shielding measures in place for the foreseeable future to protect health, this service will be a crucial lifeline for many.”

    The first food boxes are due to be delivered in the coming days to those who have been identified as being most at risk of food poverty during the COVID-19 pandemic, including families, older citizens and some of those who are shielding having received letters from their GPs.

    Minister Hargey explained:

    “Initial volumes for food provision are 10,000 packages per week, however there will be the ability to change this number up or down as required based on data from the COVID-19 Community Helpline, local partnership groups and councils which are best placed to identify those in immediate need of food insecurity.”

    Food suppliers will provide the food boxes to local councils. The packages will include items such as tinned food, dried food and soap alongside some fresh fruit and bread.

    The boxes will then be delivered by local voluntary and community organisations to those people who have been identified as being most vulnerable during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Notes to editors:

    1.  The Freephone COVID-19 Community Helpline can be accessed by telephone on 0808 802 0020; email covid19@adviceni.net or text ACTION to 81025. It is available 7 days a week, 9am to 5pm.
    2. Media enquiries to DfC Press Office Press.Office@communities-ni.gov.uk. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer on 028 9037 8110.
    3. Follow us on twitter @CommunitiesNI

     

    Latest news

    • Communities Minister ‘races’ to the starting grid of the North West 200

      10 May 2025

    • Condition of NI’s Listed buildings declines by almost 25% in twenty years

      6 May 2025

    • Minister Lyons celebrates title success for Belfast Giants

      29 April 2025

    • Suspended sentence for benefit fraud at Newry Magistrates Court

      23 April 2025

    More news …
    Share this page Share on Facebook (external link opens in a new window / tab) Share on X (external link opens in a new window / tab) Share by email (external link opens in a new window / tab)

    Department footer links

    • Crown copyright
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy
    • Cookies
    • Accessibility
    • The Northern Ireland Executive
    • The Executive Office
    • Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs
    • Department for Communities
    • Department for Education
    • Department for the Economy
    • Department of Finance
    • Department for Infrastructure
    • Department for Health
    • Department of Justice
    • nidirect.gov.uk — the official government website for Northern Ireland citizens