Food stores across the island have reached out to the vulnerable in the community by giving them exclusive shopping times or services.

Between 2pm and 3pm on Friday (March 20), a number of retirement-aged residents made use of the time slot opened exclusively to them at EVF on Alexander Drive, Douglas.

The idea was to give those in the ’high risk’ of being badly affected by coronavirus an opportunity to shop and stock up on essential items without worrying about large crowds of people.

EVF will have its elderly hour open at the same time tomorrow and announced that G4S volunteered for a team member to deliver items in Douglas and Onchan for those over 70 and for the most vulnerable in the community.

The delivery service is contactless with goods being dropped off at the door. Items are paid for over the phone or in advance. No cash will be accepted.

Orders need to be placed between 9am and 3pm for delivery the following day. Call 333762 for assistance.

Shoprite has set out opening times for Manx residents over the age of 70 only at stores in Little Switzerland, Douglas; Bridson Street, Port Erin; Bowring Road, Ramsey; Derby Road, Peel and The Village Walk, Onchan.

The hours are from 8am to 9am on Saturday, Tuesday and Thursday.

Shoprite is receiving significantly more essential items and has set limits on purchasing high demand items in store to ensure that everyone has access to them.

Robinson’s Fresh Foods has launched a small range of boxes with everyday essentials available to order online for delivery to those aged 70 and over, in self-isolation and for NHS and emergency workers.

Its ’Care Box Scheme’ includes three boxes: a fruit box; a veg box and an everyday essentials box. A fourth box will be added to the list next week.

Janna Horthuis, managing director of Robinson’s, said the initiative was a ’very quick adaptation’ to the business, which was designed to help the community, use as much local produce as possible and ’to keep our team in jobs’.

’The panic buy has certainly dropped off now and people are using the trolley cleaning area, gloves and distance markings and screens are being put up to protect our team at the cashiers,’ she said.

For more information, search www.robinsons.im/care or contact 01624 690000.

Changes are also being made to its ’Paddy’s Hooked on Fish’ website to help the community order fresh fish. You can find it here: www.paddysfish.co.uk

Tesco has also announced exclusive hours for elderly and vulnerable customers.

These hours are on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9am to 10am. Sunday morning from 8am to 9am is also for Department of Health and Social Care workers.

As of Tuesday (March 24) Tesco started allowing only one person per household to enter the building with each shop from when it opens its doors at 8am.

This is to comply with social distancing guidelines.

A spokesman said: ’It is simply not worth the risk bringing your entire family shopping just to get them out of the house.’

Marks and Spencer is reserving it first hour of trading on Mondays and Thursdays for the elderly and vulnerable in the community.

On Tuesdays and Fridays, the store will open its first hour of trading for NHS and emergency workers. Doors open at 8am throughout the week, apart from Sundays which begin at 9am.

Customers will be limited to 70 in the store at any one time. This will work on a one in, one out basis.

The only entrances into the store that are open are the main entrance coming in off Strand Street and the homeware entrance on first floor from Drumgold Street Car Park.

A local food delivery company which caters for the elderly and vulnerable have teamed up with the Isle of Man creamery and Noa Bakehouse to provide customers with complimentary fresh products.

Wiltshire Farm Foods regularly delivers freshly frozen meals to 350 homes.

Director Ben Heath said: ’As we are already delivering to elderly clients who have been advised to self isolate, we want to supply them with more than just their fresh frozen meals.

’We have a plentiful stock of meals, so new and existing customers can order confidently. In the long term, we are looking at incorporating additional products so that our customers can order all of the weekly supplies they need along with their Wiltshire meals. Call 626393 or visit www.wiltshirefarmfoods.com

â?¢ If you run a shop which is offering similar services and assistance, send the details to [email protected] and we will publish the details.