Meet the Morrisons manager and his team making a difference in Grantham
One supermarket has been cropping up in the Journal over the past few weeks as its team has gone over and above to help people in the community.
So this week, we talked to Morrisons grocery manager John Hindmarch to find out what he and his team have been doing to help during the coronavirus crisis.
How long have you worked at Morrisons and what is your role?
"I have worked for Morrisons for 12 years and I am currently grocery manager."
What has Grantham Morrisons been doing to help people in the community during lockdown?
"Within our store we have recently launched home delivery and employed a lot of new staff for these roles. We have also given our community champion team (Dan Smith, Sue Heale and Danielle Williamson) their own community van that they can use to help the elderly and vulnerable.
"Also, with this van we have launched a service called ‘Doorstep Delivery’, where you can ring 0345 611 6111 and speak to a member of staff at head office. They will take an order from you and we deliver it and take a card payment at your doorstep with our portable card payment machine. This is very helpful for the people who have no access to the internet etc.
"We have already done many deliveries in Grantham and have delivered as far as Sleaford as well. We have also helped out a few local care homes with deliveries and dropped some care packages in to people in need."
What made you want to help the community?
"Within our store we have always tried to help the local community and when people have reached out, every one of our team here has been extremely proud to help out where they can. I am proud of our team here for doing this. We are a close team and will always work together to help where we can."
Who has helped you with these good deeds?
"There are too many people to mention, everyone at our Grantham store has played their part. Our community champion team have been fantastic, and anyone who they have asked to help has done. They have all been very happy to play their part. The store team are more like a little family and will always help each other out."
Are deeds like this being encouraged by Morrisons nationwide?
"Yes. Every store’s community champion has been given a van to use as a community van to help their local community. The company is also donating over £10 million worth of stock to the local foodbanks etc – we get one pallet of stock each week delivered to our store that we split between Grantham Foodbank, Grantham Care Packages and Grantham Mencap.
"Also from our store, we donated 1,400 easter eggs to local care homes and emergency services and every Morrisons store within the company did this."
How can others help the community and support what you have been
doing?
"By being kind and looking out for one another."