CITY bosses are calling on Southampton businesses and communities to rally together to support front-line workers and vulnerable people in the fight against coronavirus.

Southampton City Council is calling on all businesses in the city such as restaurants, gyms, cleaning companies and hardware stores to donate any unused personal protective equipment (PPE) they may have or non-perishable food not being used that they are able to donate.

The news comes as the authority said it is trying to keep local foodbanks stocked up and support front-line workers as well as social care workers and carers.

Sandy Hopkins, chief executive at the city council, said the authority has PPE available for its staff but as the situation continues to evolve rapidly the council has started preparations for the future.

She said: “The objective is to try and galvanise businesses in the city to plan for the worst. What we are trying to do is model the number of PPE we are going to need in the future and we want to get businesses to work with us. We don’t know what the demand curve is going to be because if people will not respect social distancing the demand curve will be more steep.”

The authority is also asking for non-perishable items such as tinned vegetables, tinned cold meats and desserts such as rice pudding and custard to be donated.

“We want to plan for the demand we may have,” Ms Hopkins added.

Opposition leader Cllr Dan Fitzhenry welcomed the appeal.

He said: “We have enough equipment right now but we are facing increasing demand for that equipment and we are aware that there have been national supply issues and so we are asking the residents and businesses to help to ensure we can meet the demand going forward.”

Southampton City Council said it has built a distribution hub in partnership with Love Southampton, Mutual Aid Groups and SVS, that is capable of receiving large donations, with capability to distribute food across the city to households who most need it.

Cllr Lorna Fielker, cabinet member for adult social care, added: “We would be extremely grateful to any businesses who are able to donate any of these items. ”

Businesses able to donate any non-perishable food can contact Sara Crawford at Sara.Crawford@southampton.gov.uk or 023 8083 2673. Meanwhile, businesses that have any unused items such as gloves, disposable aprons, or face masks can contact Rob Gloyns at Rob.Gloyns@southampton.gov.uk or call 023 8083 298.