Middlesbrough Reads has recently donated over 300 books to PIPSCO, a food delivery service set up by Phillipa Donegan, best known as Pip - Disabled Mum.
Allison Potter, Manager for Middlesbrough Reads, came across Pip on Facebook after a friend shared a post. Pip, with the help of her support worker Madeline and husband John, set up PIPSCO in March. The service operates from their spare bedroom and delivers food parcels to vulnerable people who are shielding.
As Pip is disabled and at high risk, she has to shield which means she can't get out to the supermarket. Home deliveries were also hard to come by so she decided to create a pop-up store and delivery service to help other people in a similar position. PIPSCO is supported by monetary donations, volunteers, and donations from wholesalers.
Thanks to publishers including Penguin Random House and Pan Macmillan, Middlesbrough Reads was able to donated 350 books to PIPSCO. The books cover age ranges from newborns through to teenagers and will be included alongside food parcels. Pip also tries to include special treats each week, including chocolates and cornflake tart.
So far, Pip has supported 145 vulnerable families and 324 children with food parcels. If you'd like to find out more, or offer a donation please visit Pip - Disabled Mum on Facebook.
‘Thank you so much to everyone who has made this donation possible – these amazing books are sure to raise some smiles and will help the children learn at home during the pandemic. I always say, as a community, we can pull through this together!"
Pip Donegan, founder of PIPSCO
"Middlesbrough Reads has donated over 2,500 books for inclusion in food parcels since the start of Covid19. Reading about the work of Pip and PIPSCO and how she is relying on donations to support local families during this crisis – I had to try to offer something. Knowing how well the book donations have been received through other initiatives I contacted Pip to see if books might be a welcome addition for the younger family members."
Allison Potter, Middlesbrough Reads Manager