Appeal launched for donations during Leicester's Covid-19 emergency

Two appeals have been made for donations during the Covid-19 emergency in Leicester - and De Montfort University staff and students have been asked for their help.

The E2 emergency food distribution centre, in Beaumont Leys, is asking for donations to help feed the elderly and vulnerable on the city estate.



Norman House, a 30-bed housing project in the city's West End offering help for the homeless, is looking to put together care packages to help residents, many suffering mental health issues during the present lockdown.

All donations should be taken to the university's Watershed sports centre, on Upperton Road, which is being used by the university as an emergency distribution centre, on Monday to Friday between 10am and 3pm.

The E2 appeal

Staff and students on DMU Local's Covid-19 volunteer register have been helping out at E2 for weeks with food deliveries, cooking, telephone support and personal visit to help the vulnerable and elderly.

The food distribution centre is in urgent need of donations to help boost its dwindling supply of food for home deliveries.

E2 has appealed for canned goods, including tomatoes, sweetcorn, tuna, pasta,rice, noodles, dry spices, oil, stock cubes, dried herbs, salt, sugar and flour plus anything non-perishable.

Appeal co-ordinator Martin Buchanan said: 'The help and donations we receive ensures we can distribute emergency food parcels to those in need. We wouldn't be able to do what we do if it wasn't for the help from people like you at DMU".


The Norman House appeal

Staff at the city housing project are looking to trying to make life easier for vulnerable residents and are appealing for anything to occupy residents' time, such as books, DVDs, jigsaws and board games.

Samantha Gray,  the initiative's co-ordinator, said: "It's really anything that can help give residents some 'me-time' and reduce stress, such as herbal teas, meditation CDs, bath products, nail kits, stress balls  - anything that people can use to give them a creative outlet unused journals, art materials, adult colouring books.

"A lot are living with ongoing mental health issues and the current uncertainty and worry over COVID-19 can be really upsetting for them, which is a real concern for us."