Stenhousemuir shopkeepers help elderly with coronavirus ‘survival’ kits

Customers over the age of 65 can pick up a goody bag at Day Today Express, in Stenhousemuir containing a facemask, antibacterial hand gel and cleaning wipes.

Elderly and infirm shoppers can have the bag delivered to them for free.

The remarkable act of generosity is costing the business nearly £2000, as each bag costs £2 to put together and so far 500 have been delivered.

Another 300 are ready to be collected in the shop.

Shopkeeper Asiyah Javed (34) stocked up on hand gel at a cash and carry, before coronavirus had reached Scotland.

But last weekend she and husband Jawad (35) decided it was time to help out elderly shoppers – after thinking about how her late grandparents would have struggled.

Mum-of-three Asiyah said: “We have given away 500 bags. On Saturday I was out, and I met an old woman, she was crying because she had been to the supermarket and there was no hand wash.

“I feel it is not fair on elderly people, some can’t get out the house. We are delivering 30 packages to a care home where there are 30 people living, and we’ve got another couple of hundred in the shop.

“Some people are asking for them to be delivered as they’re old, or disabled, or don’t drive. We are just trying to help.”

She said the gesture had provoked ridicule from some people, and added: “Other shoppers are calling us stupid, and saying ‘why are you giving them away for free?’. But money is not everything, there will be the opportunity to make money in future.

“I started stockpiling hand gel when I heard about coronavirus. Other shopkeepers are buying them to sell, we are buying them to give away.”

Asiyah and her husband delivered milk free of charge to elderly people during the Beast from the East, in spring 2018.

She added: “My grandparents have passed away, but we still think of them when we see all this.

“We are trying to help the older people out.”