The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Post office a godsend for community
A Perthshire Post Office branch has become the heart of its community during the coronavirus pandemic.
The Methven outlet has been a base for volunteers who stepped up to care for self-isolating villagers, providing a free grocery and parcel pick-up and delivery service.
Postmaster Catherine Scott said staff and locals had worked to ensure people who needed extra support received it.
She said: “This took a bit of organising as it’s something I’d never done before.
“A fab bunch of volunteers came forward to assist with deliveries. This meant we could also check folk were OK.
“My paper deliveries doubled and my paper boys and girls just got on with it. They happily chatted to those selfisolating to ensure they were OK.”
Sarah Ferguson of Methven
Community Council dropped leaflets off to elderly and vulnerable people with details of a dedicated person they could contact for assistance.
An hour each morning was also dedicated to vulnerable and elderly people and key workers.
Ms Scott said the community spirit had worked both ways, with one customer regularly buying the team anti-bacterial spray while others made face masks and hair bands for staff.
The branch is busier than usual, with 15 to 20 mailbags a day compared to five to seven before lockdown.
Ms Scott said villagers were shopping local rather than travelling to bigger towns, sending parcels to family and friends they cannot see in person and returning online purchases.
She said: “It has been an extremely stressful and busy time. However, our villagers have remained safe and the community spirit has been amazing.
“It’s lovely to start to see our elderly and vulnerable customers again and being able to chat and help restore their confidence at this time.”