People in Waveney are rallying to provide help to the vulnerable in their communities.

Here are the people and groups that are providing help in the town. We will be adding to this list on a rolling basis:

- Free home food deliveries in Pakefield:

Tea By The Sea, a popular tea room and cafe in Pakefield, Lowestoft, is offering free home deliveries within a three mile radius to customers due to coronavirus. The family owned tea room in Pakefield Street is offering a free delivery to your home of afternoon tea for £11 per person, as well as Sunday roast dinners delivered for £8.50 for one course or £11 with dessert. Ruing 01502 585573 to book.

- Free home food deliveries in Beccles:

The Country Kitchen Farm Cafe, in Shipmeadow, is delivering cooked food and fresh farm shop meats, dairy and vegetables through special arrangement if you message them on Facebook or call Amie Strak on 07852297225.

- Free ice cream deliveries within 25 miles of Beccles:

Parravanis ice cream are hoping to keep everyone’s chin up by offering free home delivery on all orders of ice cream, sorbet, cakes and desserts over £10. You can order on their website or by calling 01502 715970.

- Light a candle to show your support:

Church leaders have called for unity during the pandemic, with Michael Asquith, of St Margaret’s Church in Lowestoft, urging residents to light a candle in their front window at 7pm this Sunday, March 22, to show we stand together against Coronavirus.

- Emergency supplies for elderly and vulnerable across Waveney:

Mandy’s Pickles, in Beccles, are delivering everyday essentials, fresh vegetables, and meats to those in Geldeston, Gillingham, Kirbycane, Ellingham and Ditchingham. They have reserved supplied for those “who are vulnerable, elderly, or forced into quarantine,” who they can deliver to. You can order on their Facebook page or by calling 07949 813788.

- QD opening hours:

The QD store in Lowestoft, based on Commercial Road, and the Cherry Lane Garden Centre, at Early Dawn, Carlton Colville, will open their doors early for older and less able customers. This is running across all stores in the Group so will also be available at QD Beccles and Cherry Lane – South View in Fritton.

The stores will now open Monday to Saturdays at 8.30am.

- Coming together:

People in the Lowestoft area are continuing to rally round.

The Coming together public group on Facebook was only set up on Sunday night – but it already boasts more than 2,500 members, with the “amazing” community response praised by organisers.

Group administrators Stacey Drennan, Kelly Brooks, Matt Fisher, Gemma Butler and Marie Fairish have already helped provide items to a number of people across Lowestoft, Oulton Broad, Beccles and Gorleston.

With the Flying Dutchman and the Mariners Rest pubs in Lowestoft, the Mariners Compass pub in Gorleston, Caxton Arms pub in Beccles and Howards estate agents in Lowestoft all acting as donation drop-off points, any spare items to help others are being dropped off at these venues and then delivered to “the people who need it most at this worrying and difficult time.”

Mr Drennan said: “It has been amazing.

“I just noticed the supermarkets were going mental and there’s people out there that need a lot of help.

“This has brought a bit of light to the world.

“We have had people from across Lowestoft, Beccles, Great Yarmouth, a lot of the rural areas and as far away as Norwich contact us and we’ve arranged for something to be delivered.

“We know that toilet rolls and hand sanitisers are nowhere to be seen, but we’ve been able to help with distributing essential items such as washing up liquid, bread and milk to those in need.

“Going forward we have set up a GoFundMe page, and you can find out more at www.facebook.com/groups/2810477899179081/ “

-Parish council hotline:

Somerleyton parish council have set up a hotline with local telecomms company Liquid11 to allow residents in isolation to contact a team of volunteer support workers at the parish council to organise hot food, a chat, or shopping deliveries. You can visit Liquid 11’s website for more information about setting up your own hotline. A spokesman for Liquid 11, based in Lowestoft, who built the SwitchboardFree service, said: “It’s a phone line that can be called by locals in isolation and it connects them to a team of volunteer support workers.

“It’s a single phone number that connects to different team members at different times. It also allows for messages to be left and email to the teams and a main menu to be turned on – such as press one to get help with shopping, press two to chat to someone in the village.”

See more via www.switchboardfree.co.uk/free-community-support-line

- Mother’s Day deliveries

A well loved restaurant and cafe in Bungay is launching a home delivery service to ensure it can stay afloat during the coronavirus outbreak.

Earsham Street Cafe, on Earsham Street, is staying open and keeping on its 13 staff after the government’s announcement that restaurants could begin deliveries.

“Bungay is comprised mainly of independent shops, restaurants, cafes and pubs. Some have closed but there are still lots open and working hard to continue. Everyone is looking out for each other in the town.”

The cafe was also due to begin an Indian cuisine tasting night, which will be continued through its takeaway options.

Beginning next week, Monday, March 23, meals can be ordered online or by calling on 07540724395.

- Halesworth 24/7 phone number

If you need anything, from shopping, to a chat, you can contact a volunteer from the Halesworth Volunteer Centre 24/7 on 01986 875600 or email covid@halesworthvc.co.uk.

You can join our ‘Here to Help’ Facebook community group here.

If you are doing something to help in your community, email matthew.nixon@archant.co.uk

For updates visit our Coronavirus Facebook page.