IT has been one of the comforting positives which has come out of the coronavirus crisis. Legions of volunteers, neighbours and community groups have been giving up their time to help those in need.

For some people who find themselves in isolation, these amazing volunteers have become lifelines. From picking up shopping or prescriptions to cooking an extra meal and leaving it at someone's doorstep there have been endless acts of kindness.

And today the Herald on Sunday is highlighting just some of the amazing stories as those grateful for help say thank you.

Perthshire group Feldy-Roo, based in Aberfeldy, set up on response to the crisis and are now delivering two meals a day to people who are vulnerable and isolating.

Diabetic Eileen Robertson,75, says she couldn't do without them.

She said: "I can't get out and really depend on them. They bring you two meals a day and it is so nice to see a smiling face. I can't praise or thank them enough. We are very lucky to have them in our community."

Alex and Lilly Murray, who are in their eighties, have als been helped by the group.

"It has made such a difference to us as we can't get out to go shopping. I really want to thank them for all they have been doing."

Eighty-two year John Young had been used to going to several clubs in Aberfeldy where a meal might have been included, but the activities have all stopped in lockdown.

He signed up for Feldy-Roo and has been amazed at what they are doing.

"I think what they are doing is marvellous., said Mr Young. It breaks up your day as you see someone twice a day when they drop off lunch and tea. I really appreciate everything they are doing. They even dropped off some bread and toilet rolls one week. It was such a great idea and they have managed to keep it all going so well."

Gavin Price, who runs The Fountain bar in Aberfeldy, Perthshire, and is also the boss of Scottish Professional Football League Two side Elgin City, didn’t know what he and his staff were going to do when they had to close their doors. Originally they thought they could hand out the surplus stock they had and made a few meals. That idea has now grown into a community concern involving dozens of volunteers and have delivered more than 5000 meals since they started for people who are in isolation.

Mr Price said: "Our funding team are relentless and we have been supported by grants and local businesses. We are hoping to reach a target that will allow us to sustain the #FeldyRoo project through to the end of lockdown."

Read more: Coronavirus in Scotland: Volunteer army on the march to feed vulnerable during crisis

Sheltered housing warden Rhea Fitzgerald, from South Ayrshire, has a massive thank you for community hero Joanne Redford.

Set up in response to the continuing crisis, Troon, Loans and Dundonald Covid-19 support Group, is helping to keep people connected.

Ms Redford set up the group through facebook and it has grown into a community resource which is helping people in a time of need.

Mrs Fitzgerald said: "We have had great support from Ms Redford's group. She has dropped off basic supplies which has helped residents in between supplies. Our residents are cut off from their families just now so any gesture like this is welcome. We have one person turning 80 next week and we will try to make it as special as we can."

Volunteer Ms Redford added: "Even before we were heading for lockdown I put up posters in coffee shops in the town. It simply asked if anyone needed shopping done to give me a call. I started out putting leaflets through doors so people could let us know what kind of help they needed from shopping to picking up prescriptions.

"I printed up a couple of thousand help cards to post through doors and thanks to volunteers we were able to reach 5000 homes. I also put together a business directory and delivered 4000 of those to people’s homes. It meant people who were isolating had contact numbers they needed and might be glad of some of the local firms delivering.

“I do two to three shops a day for people and with more than 100 helpers now on board we are able to get to a number of people. There is no contact due to social distancing, but sometimes you see a little face and a smile at a window and it makes it all worthwhile.”

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For former art teacher Kirsty Gibbs a charity delivering food to her door as been her “little miracle.”

Mrs Gibbs, who was head of art the former Park Schools for Girls, in Glasgow had already been relying on the Food Train charity. Her eyesight had been deteriorating over some years and she is also wheelchair bound.

But the 73-year-old, who lives in Glasgow’s west end, says she needs the help of the charity even more so.

“I honestly don’t know where I would be without them. It has already been wonderful for me. I can’t thank them enough for what they do for me,” said Mrs Gibbs. “I am no longer able to get out and online shopping is not an option for me as my eyesight is poor.

“Nothing is too much trouble for them. I phone up with my weekly orders and you feel as if you have a friend at the other end. The service they provide is even more important given the circumstances we now find ourselves in. To know that your shopping will be brought to your door is such a relief.”

Mrs Gibbs says the volunteers are taking great care when they bring her shopping.

She added: “Everyone is taking greater health and safety. The volunteer lets me know when they are on their way. When they arrive I make sure I have enough time to move to another room. I have had a number of challenges in my life and have learned to adapt. I am also content with my own company and can fill my days with interests, but for some people finding themselves in isolation must be very difficult and I feel for them.”

The Food Train was set up in 1995 and has been making daily life easier for older people, providing vital services to those who are no longer able to manage independently, through age, ill health, frailty or disability. It makes hundreds of grocery deliveries every week, ensuring those most in need have access to fresh groceries. And during this crisis it has been a godsend for many.

Emma Black, fundraising and marketing manager at the Food Chain, which has sites across Scotland, said they have had more than 300 volunteers sign up to help in Glasgow since Covid-19 outbreak.

She said: “With new customers coming on board we are now reaching nearly 500 vulnerable older people across Glasgow but these numbers are increasing daily.

“Due to the increase in customer numbers we are introducing our brand new 1:1 shopping service, whereby we match volunteers up with a vulnerable older person to shop for them specifically.”

As their fundraising activity has gone down and our costs have gone up particularly in staffing, personal protection equipment and fuel, they have set up a Just Giving page https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/FoodTrain

Ian Arthur is one of the newest recruits and volunteered at the beginning of the crisis.

“I had been taking shopping to my mother-in-law and leaving it on the doorstep and I thought there must be many more people in Glasgow in this similar situation where they can’t get out but might not have the help there,” said Mr Arthur.

“I searched online for groups online in my area and the Food Train came up. I haven’t been working lately so I had time on my hands to volunteer. There was only so much cleaning I could do at home” he added.

Mr Arthur has been helping to deliver shopping to people who are isolating as well as working in the charity’s base fielding calls.

He added: “It has been a very humbling experience. Knowing that the thing you are doing is helping people who can’t get out for themselves makes it all worthwhile.”

For Lisa Bechelli her local volunteer group has made it easier to access the medication she requires for her autoimmune disease. Although in the initial days before lockdown was enforced, Ms Bechelli had been helping to set up the group she is now relying on.

“I had been helping out with social media and a JustGiving page for Kinross Kindness, little did I know at the time I would come to need their help,” said Ms Bechelli. “When advice changed and lockdown came I was one of the ones being told to isolate for 12 weeks as I have Crohn’s disease. I have monthly prescriptions and as my partner is also isolating due to asthma, so I don’t know what we would have done without the volunteers. They have been collecting my prescription which is a great relief. I don’t know what we would have done without them as we don’t have any family nearby.”

Read more: Coronavirus in Scotland: Volunteer army on the march to feed vulnerable during crisis

Ms Bechelli, from Milnathort, Kinross-shire, is still able to work from home a couple of days a week and she and her partner Adrian Bulloch have been enjoying time with their seven-year-old daughter Ailah.

“We are trying to make the most of this situation and have been enjoying family time and trying to get out in the garden as much as possible,” added Ms Bechelli. “Our daughter has been keeping in contact with her friends and I have been joining in a virtual coffee morning through our volunteer group so I have actually met new people, albeit virtually.”

Having been diagnosed with Crohn’s disease 11 years ago, it has met regular hospital trips for Ms Bechelli. And although in lockdown, her appointments every eight weeks are still scheduled.

“I require infusion treatment every eight weeks. I have been for one already at Queen Margaret Hospital in Dunfermline. I am very nervous with hospitals at the best of times, but I must say I was anxious this time,” added Ms Bechelli.

She said: “There was a security guard on the door when I turned up and they were asking you why you were there. You then had to put on hand gel. It was eerily quiet when I had my treatment. Normally there are around 12 people in the ward at the same time, but for several hours it was just me.”

Read more: Coronavirus in Scotland: From virtual coffee mornings to soup pots volunteers are doing their bit

Kinross Kindness set up four weeks ago in response to the Covid-19 outrbreak.

Tim Mart, the initial founder, said they were experiencing a “self-perpetuating cycle of kindness and gratitude that is generating a torchlight of positivity during a challenging time.”

He added: “Many of the lives of our volunteers have changed so dramatically. They're telling us how thankful they are to be able to do something with their time that focusses the mind and makes a contribution.

“This gratitude is then mirrored by the heartwarming messages being received from the Kinross-shire community. People outwardly expressing their thanks and sharing the difference it is making to them knowing the community group is there to help. This fuels the volunteers to want to do even more and the cycle begins again.”

If you want to thank your community heroes then get in touch. Contact deborah.anderson@heraldandtimes.co.uk

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