Letters regarding emergency food packages for people shielding during the COVID-19 pandemic

A4 letter from HM Government "Emergency Food package" giving details about the package to have sufficient food and household essentials for one week, including one double-sided A4 page detailing the contents of food boxes and nutritional information for "Fletcher's White Bread", received by Sammie Read during the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020

Sammie was one of the people advised by the United Kingdom government to shield after being categorised as “clinically extremely vulnerable” due to their higher risk of developing coronavirus and potentially developing complications. The list was of people included those with cystic fibrosis, like Sammie, but also severe asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, some cancers, long term organ conditions, diabetes, transplant recipients, people with lower immune responses due to treatments or conditions, people with learning impairments and adults with Down’s syndrome. By May 2020, 2.2 million people were identified. The choice was presented a personal one and a voluntary action. By signing up to the government’s support page, Sammie received a weekly food parcel. These contained tinned foods including vegetables, fruit, pulses, and meat, and cereal. by 6 May 2020, over 1 million food boxes had been delivered.

People who were shielding were advised to stay home at all times and avoid all face-to face contact for at least 12 weeks beginning in late March 2020. For Sammie and her husband Ewan this meant socially distancing in the house they share. Sammie sharing her experience through her youtube channel. When shielding was officially paused on 1 August 2020, food boxes were also stopped. Advice on sheilding changed as COVID-19 cases rose and fall being reinstated during the third wave in January 2021 but the emergency food supply service was not re-started.