Coronavirus: Random acts of kindness include generous tip and door-to-door taxi driver

Siobhan McKinney, who lives in the Moy, Dungannon, is self-employed and has worked as a contracted driver for the Education Authority since 1996.

With schools closing the 50-year-old has found herself out of work for the foreseeable future but wants to use her free time to help others.

She said: “With the pubs and restaurants closing as well there’s not much work about for taxi drivers.

“I want to do what I can to help. I’ll use my car to do deliveries to people, if I run out of diesel I’ll walk.”

Siobhan contacted the News Letter after reading our story about St James Parish Church in the Moy which had set up a buddy system to look after older self-isolating church members.

She said: “I lost my parents within 10 months, I know how vulnerable people can be.

“If they can’t go out I’ll come to them. I’ll be wearing gloves and I’ll leave whatever they need at the door.”

She said anyone in the Moy area needing assistance should call 07799100294.

Meanwhile, restaurant chain Bob and Berts, which was founded in Portstewart and has stores throughout NI, offered to provide free meals for those who would normally get them in schools.

They tweeted: “As long as we are open and we can get supplies then discreetly mention to your server at the till you get free school meals then we will sort you for free.”

In another act of kindness, Simon Dougan, owner of the Yellow Door cafe and deli chain, said staff were moved to tears when a customer left a large tip at one of his delis.

He tweeted: “A loyal customer in our deli discretely said I left you guys a little something after finishing his scone and coffee. You will need it more than me he said before slowly walking off. We found £60 under his coffee cup. Our staff were in tears, Thank you SIR.”