How ‘community champion’ Denise is helping support the people of Hillsborough through pandemic

Nobody knows the community of Hillsborough better than Denise Mills.
Denise Mills prepares donations and 'food bank basics' bags ready to be delivered from Morrisons HillsboroughDenise Mills prepares donations and 'food bank basics' bags ready to be delivered from Morrisons Hillsborough
Denise Mills prepares donations and 'food bank basics' bags ready to be delivered from Morrisons Hillsborough

As ‘Community Champion’ for Morrisons Hillsborough, Denise’s phone hasn’t stopped ringing since the coronavirus crisis kicked into high gear in March.

And where the focus of her job before was primarily fundraising, she reveals the current pandemic has thrust she and her colleagues firmly back into the hearts of their communities - right where they belong.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“My role has really come into its own in the past three months,” reveals the mum-of-two, who started the job 18 months ago.

Donations and 'food bank basics' bags ready to be delivered from Morrisons HillsboroughDonations and 'food bank basics' bags ready to be delivered from Morrisons Hillsborough
Donations and 'food bank basics' bags ready to be delivered from Morrisons Hillsborough

“When all of this began in March, everything was chopping and changing from day-to-day, for all of us, and for the supermarkets it was difficult to get a beat on exactly what was happening and what was needed.

“We decided to focus on our community and how we could help them the most.

“Morrisons very quietly committed to delivering £10m of food to be distributed to those most in need in communities across the UK.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“That was £1,000 of food every week for each of our five Sheffield stores, so that’s what we’ve had to work with.”

Denise delivering donations and 'food bank basics' bags from Morrisons HillsboroughDenise delivering donations and 'food bank basics' bags from Morrisons Hillsborough
Denise delivering donations and 'food bank basics' bags from Morrisons Hillsborough

Denise and her team began reaching out to local food banks and schools to distribute the food where it was most needed.

They also set up a direct line that people in the community could call if they were struggling, either financially or in securing delivery slots.

“We have emergency food packs, and if anybody desperately needs food and can’t get out, they can give me a ring and I’ll get some food sent to them,” says Denise.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“It’s not a case of call this number and press 1 or 2, or hold for an operator - they can call me, and speak to a person who understands and is here specifically to support them.

Socially distanced sorting of donation at Morrisons HillsboroughSocially distanced sorting of donation at Morrisons Hillsborough
Socially distanced sorting of donation at Morrisons Hillsborough

“Initially, there were people struggling to get delivery slots, so we decided to reach out to as many of the elderly and vulnerable people in the community as we could.

People like that don’t necessarily have the internet or computers to order online shopping anyway, so we had a dedicated team reaching out, and taking orders, and doing doorstep deliveries completely free of charge.

“That service is going to be continuing for a while.”

Denise also explains that the current crisis has brought out the best in the people of Hillsborough, and that she’s seen for herself how strong the community is.

Donations and 'food bank basics' bags ready to be delivered from Morrisons HillsboroughDonations and 'food bank basics' bags ready to be delivered from Morrisons Hillsborough
Donations and 'food bank basics' bags ready to be delivered from Morrisons Hillsborough
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“We’ve been inundated with customer donations, which has really helped us out,” she says.

“Initially, I know there was a lot of concern when people were panic buying, but as things have calmed down, we’ve really seen communities around the country re-emerging.

“Every day in the store, I see people buying food for friends and family, and picking up essentials for neighbours.

“Everyone is working together, and I’m so proud to live in a community as close-knit as Hillsborough.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“We’ve never been short of customer donations since all this began, and it’s really nice that people see we can’t do it all, and that we need help.”

One of Denise’s latest initiatives is the ‘food bank basics’ bags, which she has pulled together herself, from items in the store that local food banks are asking for, and left by the till for people to add into their shopping.

Denise Mills at Morrisons HillsboroughDenise Mills at Morrisons Hillsborough
Denise Mills at Morrisons Hillsborough

“So many people have shown their willingness to help, but admitted they don’t really know how to do it for the best, so we’re making it really simple,” says Denise.

“We have a list of items that the food banks are crying out for, and we’ve made up brown bags with these things in, that customers can buy at the tills, and then donate.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“There are things like bags of rice for 25p, a jar of coffee, some biscuits, cereal, or a bag of pasta for 40p.

“These are bags that won’t break the banks, priced anything up to £2 each, but they can make a huge difference to the people who really need them.

“I wasn’t sure how they’d go down, but so far people have been buying them up really quickly, so we’re going to continue with that for a while too.”

And Denise wants the people of Hillsborough and beyond - including the communities of Stocksbridge and Wharncliffe, where there isn’t a Morrisons store - to know she’s there for them.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“This terrible time has really thrown myself and my colleagues right where we belong - out into the community, doing real work to help make those communities stronger.

“We know, with all the instability surrounding people’s jobs as the country gets moving again, that this is probably going to get worse before it gets better, but we’ll be here, ready to help in any way we can, and just at the other end of the phone.”

If you live in Hillsborough, and you need support, call Denise on 07811 716661.