A shopping delivery service has been set up to help people in Stewartry villages.
Pals Blythe Aitken and Carina Fisher have joined forces with Stewartry Rugby Club to set up The Supply Van, ensuring older and more vulnerable people will still get their shopping while they are in isolation.
The shop-and-drop service will operate mainly in Springholm, Crocketford and Kirkpatrick Durham. Most deliveries will be on Tuesdays and Thursdays which are the regular training nights for the players.
Blythe, who lives in Kirkpatrick Durham, said: “I finished my isolation about a week and a half ago and went to see Carina as she lives on a farm and I help her with lambing.
“We said we wanted to do something to help so I came home and made a Facebook page and designed all the logos.
“My boyfriend plays for Stewartry Rugby Club and he said they’d been looking to get involved too.
“We have a great following on Facebook and we’ve put flyers around butchers, bakers and other places old people would go before they had to stay indoors.
“We’ve also had a few phone calls from people whose numbers had been passed on by relatives and people who wanted to find out more for when they need us.
“We’ve made two deliveries so far as people are still going out, even though they are not supposed to.”
Volunteers will follow strict hygiene rules, with shopping being cleaned after it is purchased.
And the vans are brand new as Blythe’s brother works for ETGB Group who are in the process of taking delivery of new vehicles. Special red cards have also been created for people who are self-isolating and in need of help to put in their windows. Metrik Group printers supplying the first 1000 for free.
Stewartry RFC development officer John Muir said: “We have had awesome support from the community this year and we owe it to them to give something back in these unprecedented times.
To find out more about The Supply Van call Blythe on 07568327638 or search for The Supply Van on Facebook.
