Food deliveries are becoming a part of our lives more than ever amid the coronavirus lockdown.
For some, the last few weeks have seen more takeaways and supermarket deliveries than usual.
Others aren't so lucky - they rely on food banks.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, food bank usage had been steadily increasing.
In 2010, the Trussell Trust handed out 41,000 food parcels across the UK.
By 2016, that number had risen to 1.2m.
The coronavirus crisis has only accelerated the rate of demand, according to volunteers across Greater Manchester.
One council-run service, Salford Assist, used to provide 25 food vouchers a week to people who cannot afford food or fuel and need emergency help.
Last week, it issued 350 vouchers - and a further 300 vouchers for fuel.
As demand rises, food banks have been left with a logistical headache - how do they get supplies to those in need?
Iain Wight is a manager at Salford Foodbank, which has four centres across the city.
His team had to move quickly to overhaul their way of working as it became obvious the usual drop-in system was unsustainable.
New social distancing rules required a new delivery system - amid rocketing demand.
In one week, the number of people requesting food jumped 300 percent.
To make matters worse, within the first week of the lockdown, Iain lost a handful of regular volunteers after they were forced to self-isolate.
"The first week was slightly chaotic," Iain said.
But he says his team's efforts since have been ‘extraordinary’.
The response from the community has been particularly moving, he says.
More than 50 people have signed up as volunteers since the start of the pandemic - many of whom have seen their own finances take a hit.
Many of the new recruits had been furloughed; some have lost their jobs.
Iain added: "People who suddenly have availability, who didn’t have it two weeks ago became volunteers."
The team is now able to deliver between 60 and 70 food parcels a day.
Iain reckons they’re reaching 400 families a month.
Prior to the coronavirus outbreak, food banks were sustained largely by donations from the public.
Aside from a short dip when supermarkets started introducing restrictions amid panic-buying, donations have come in at a steady rate.
The support food banks has received from the business community has helped Ian and his crew massively.
“The support we’ve had from businesses - that’s really a new thing for us," he said.
"There’s now a national agreement with British Gas and the Trussell Trust, but before that our local British Gas got in touch and provided us with a small fleet of vans who help us with deliveries.
“We have a charity called Salford foundation who do a lot of outreach - they provided us with drivers and then we’ve had local company Seddon Construction, who’ve provided us with a fleet and which helps with volume moves from supermarkets.
“And then there’s the fleet of vans from the Manchester United Foundation. They’re normally going into schools but they’re making those vans available to us at the moment. Those links have been extremely helpful.
The food bank has received some ‘very generous’ donations from charity, including the Greater Manchester mayor charity fund, Booths charities and FareShare.
Iain said the service needs donations ‘all the time’, with what he calls ‘kettle meals’ especially appreciated.
“Some clients only have microwave or kettle - so anything like noodles or pasta and sauce in a packet is appreciated," he added.
"We’re always low on long-life milk, and we’re always short on tinned fish and fruit. But we value everything that’s donated. And we do need food donations all the time.”
It’s not just established food banks helping people.
In Salford, gin distilleries have switched production to make hand wash.
And an army of sewers - professionals and amateurs alike - have started making much-needed scrubs for NHS workers.
Council services have also stepped up their support.
Stu Moss is a catering manager who normally works on wedding receptions in Salford.
He said it quickly became apparent business would dry up, but that his links in the food distribution industry could still be put to good use.
A sually used for weddings became the nerve centre of a new food delivery service. The space is also used for wedding receptions but has become the nerve centre of a new food delivery service. Pictures show them in action at their Buile Hill Park base.
“We said - we need to get out there,” Stu said.
In two weeks, his team delivered food to 1,000 homes.
“There’s a lot of tears when they’re dropped off," he adds.
"We had a lovely card from one 74 year old woman, left on her doorstep.
“The ages are from 18 to 90 odd. I do one where a 70 year old gentleman called for his 98 year old mum. He lives in Bury and so couldn't help his mum. We got down there very quickly. But we see all ages and all demographics."
His team is made up from volunteers and council staff redirected from other departments.
“It’s not something we’ve done before - you learn the first couple of days to do it. The guys who are doing the deliveries are normally working on bins,” Ian added.
Food parcels are also a big part of the support that’s being offered by the Spirit of Salford network, co-ordinated by Eccles councillor Sharmina August.
Those with income issues can receive vouchers, but more affluent but isolated individuals can pay £20 for a food parcel, if they’re self-isolating and unable to leave their homes.
“These are people who are not on the shielded list, but maybe are a bit scared of leaving the house,” Coun August said.
The food boxes include milk, tea, cereal, fruit, vegetables and tinned food as well as other necessities like toilet roll and soap.
Many of the people who use the service are struggling with the mental toll of the lockdown, she says.
A man in his 80s who gets the food boxes was moved to tears when his package arrived.
“He said he didn’t know how he was going to survive,” Coun August added.
Coun Tracy Kelly, who also helps out with the project, says she’s received a similar response.
“One lad was so grateful, he shouted after me and said: “When I get a new job I will make a donation,” she added.
“Another man said he had never had to ask for help before. It was really upsetting for him and he hoped it would be over soon."
Despite the help that is available, what is clear is the toll the pandemic is having on people.
The Spirit of Salford hotline was only set up a few weeks ago by Coun August and her colleague Coun Lewis Nelson to help direct individuals to support during the lockdown.
It has already received more than 4,000 calls.
Many of those in the first week were food-related, the town hall says.
Since then, the network has expanded its volunteer base, and with it, its range of services.
These include a Keep in Touch service - for those who feel isolated or scared - and it has been particularly well-used by people with dementia, coun August says.
“With dementia, some people have gone out and don’t understand why people are staying away from them, or why the shops are closed. It can be particularly confusing and stressful for people in those situations,” she said.
The network has also teamed up with charities and organisations in the city to widen its range of services. These include a digital buddy scheme which matches isolated people with tech-savvy individuals and a dog-walking service.
“A lot of people would put their pets’ wellbeing above their own,” coun August says, but this allows those who need to self-isolate to do - without worrying about the impact on their dog.
The network has also teamed up with the city’s voluntary service to provide specialist support for LGBT+ individuals, the Jewish community, the Polish community and people with disabilities.
Hundreds of people signed up as volunteers to the service, coun August has said, although not all yet have been used. With uncertainty surrounding the length of the lockdown, she says it’s likely that many of those will still be needed further down the line.
And, what’s clear, is the toll that this difficult time is taking on those who are most vulnerable.
Coun August says: “I had a lady today who when I dropped the box on her door was saying she’s been crying all morning because she’s not seen her children. It’s really tough.”
