Bay of Plenty store gives free bread and milk amid Covid 19 coronavirus

A Bay of Plenty general store owner is providing free milk and bread to elderly and needy in his community as a way of helping them survive.

Edgecumbe Suppa Market, a small store in Edgecumbe in the Eastern Bay of Plenty, is giving free supplies to the elderly and those in need over the lockdown period.

Owner Amandeep Singh said it was their way of helping struggling during such troubling times.

Singh made the announcement on Facebook yesterday and set up signs in and out of his store to let everyone know that the elderly or hungry could grab free supplies to get through the lockdown.

"Many people here do not have enough money to survive."

The cost for the free milk and bread would be coming out of the business's "own pocket". After eight years of community support, Singh said it was the right thing to do.

"The people here have always backed us, that is why we are doing it."

Yesterday, a number of people came in to take advantage of the gift and Singh expected many more today.

He said many elderly people were not able to leave their homes, so relatives were coming in to pick up the goods to drop at their doors.

The community had been "so thankful" and "so kind" and the staff at the store had been thrilled to see their reactions, he said.

"Hopefully this will make a huge difference to our small community."

• Covid19.govt.nz: The Government's official Covid-19 advisory website