Ice cream van transformed in these challenging times

An ice cream van has been turned into an essential food delivery service for communities in North and West Belfast.

Instead of serving up 99s, it now carries basics like food, milk or kitchen roll and brings supplies to people in need in the fight against Covid=19.

The van’s signature tune now alerts people that its in their area and they can buy what they need on their street.

It also stocks hand sanitiser which is being made locally by TLC Aftercare who were doing creams for Cusick Tattoos and have now turned their hand to sanitiser.

The mobile shop service came about when Steven Pollock from the Action for Community Transformation Initiative (ACT initiative) started planning how he could help vulnerable people in the community during the lockdown.

ACT is a registered charity working in conflict transformation, based on the Shankill Road in Belfast.

"I really didn't expect it to be as busy and as popular as what it is. The guys have been working really hard, working nine-hour days, seven days a week, right through Easter"

Mr Pollock approached Town and Country Catering, the owners of the ice cream van, to see if they could use it to deliver essential supplies.

This new service, now up an running since mid March, after the ice cream van was transformed almost overnight.

Mr Pollock said the response has been through the roof.

"I really didn’t expect it to be as busy and as popular as what it is. The guys have been working really hard, working nine-hour days, seven days a week, right through Easter, they’re not taking any holidays", he said.

The most popular items are bread, milk and potatoes, according to Mr Pollock, but he added that having of the freezer in the van means they can deliver frozen goods as well.

He also said the local shops in the area have stepped up and are delivering to vulnerable people.

"People have a fear because its an unknown, its not a visual thing that you can see, that’s what worries people most, they’re happy to stay at home to help save lives, but its getting those essential items that they worry about because there are so many people trying to get into the supermarkets",he said.

But with the recent warm weather, is the chiming van confusing some people?

"Every street the guys went to today, people were asking for ice cream, but unfortunately we’ll just have to leave that or another time," said Mr Pollock.