Feeding frontline heroes
‘SAMBOS FOR AMBOS’ HELPING HARDWORKING HEALTH WORKERS
A mother-of-two living in Wicklow town has established a fundraising campaign so sandwiches are delivered to overstretched health and emergency service staff on the front-line.
Local graphic designer Hazel Hoad set up a gofundme page with the aim of providing at least one sandwich to every ambulance service worker, hospital personnel, doctor, nurse, pharmacist and healthcare worker doing their bit to combat Covid-19.
She has also created a ‘Sambos for Ambos’ webpage to highlight her campaign.
‘It’s a way to say thank you and that we appreciate all their hard work,’ said Hazel.
‘I created the gofundme page as a place to donate as little as €5 to buy a couple of sandwiches for our hard-working heroes. You might say it’s only a sandwich but to a stressed-out ambulance driver who hasn’t had a chance to stop today and grab some food, it’s appreciated. To the volunteer who also lost their job due to Covid-19 closures and has decided to help at the new pop-up testing centres its a meal, they don’t have the money to buy themselves. It’s a quick bite to eat for a crazy busy nurse trying their best to just keep up.’
As donations come in, sandwiches will go out to front-line health service staff. A range of daily fresh hand-made sandwiches will be delivered to local ambulance bays, hospitals, testing centres and doctors’ offices.
‘We can do this with the support of local small businesses, who also need support in these trying times,’ added Hazel.
‘A sandwich costs €2.50 to supply and deliver, thanks to the help of local small businesses. But we need the help of the public for this to work. Can you spare €5 to buy a couple of sandwiches for these hard-working heroes? Any amount little or large will go a long way to showing appreciation. I am also thinking of the small businesses and their employees and hopefully, these sandwich orders will help them out in these hard times too.’
Hazel also intends to post all activities on social media so the process if completely transparent and it’s clear exactly where the donations are going. She is urging people to keep front-line staff in mind and the sacrifices they are making in leading the fight against Covid-19 and the treatment of extremely-ill patients.
‘ These are unprecedented times and everyone is a little scared right now. Can you imagine how our front-line servicemen and women must feel? They are putting their own health aside in aid to do their job and help our country and our sick and vulnerable cope with this coronavirus pandemic Ireland is facing. None of us know yet what will come and what will happen in Ireland but what we do know is that the Irish are there for each other in times of need. We look out for one another, we support each other and we help each other where we can.’
So far the initiative has received plenty of support, with two loads of 75 sandwiches along with 75 drinks delivered by Friday.
‘We delivered sandwiches to the ambulance bays in Wicklow town, Arklow and Loughlinstown, local pharmacies, Westmount Clinic in Wicklow town and the Medical Assessment Unit at St Columcille’s Hospital. The sandwiches went out thanks to The Coffee Place in Newtownmountkennedy. We are also open to suggestions over places to deliver to,’ added Hazel.
To make a donation then just visit https://www.gofundme. com/f/qry7fm.