Penneys say thanks to Frontline staff with care packages
A large group of volunteers gathered in Penneys in Drogheda to create 200 care packages for staff working in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda.
The bags, which contained everything from pyjamas to socks, were delivered to the hospital last week where they were gratefully received by the staff.
‘We created and delivered 200 care packs ourselves between the Drogheda and Dundalk store,’ said Drogheda Store Manager Laura. ‘We were all volunteers and everyone was happy to be there and to help out.’
She said the nursing staff were thrilled to receive the care packs, which were delivered at the door of the hospital.
‘ They were absolutely over the moon with them,’ said Laura. ‘We posted a little video of us preparing them on Facebook and some of the nurses commented on it to say thank you.
‘Ursula, one of the community gardaí, helped to organise the delivery. The wo managers and two garda cars brought all the boxes up and we had to deliver them to the service entrance because obviously the hospital is in lockdown but quite a few of the nurses came down to say thank you in person, it was lovely.’
Laura said there was a fantastic atmosphere in the shop when staff from the Drogheda and Dundalk stores, alongside some staff from head office who live locally, gathered to assemble the care packs.
‘We were overwhelmed by the amount of people who wanted to volunteer,’ she said. ‘Obviously,
with the restrictions we could only take in so many at a time. As soon as we put the call out my phone was inundated, the thing I find amazing is that everyone just wants to help. It’s brilliant to be part of and it made me so proud of the team we have the and the company we work for.’
Laura said the care packs for the ladies included everything from pyjamas, tshirts and leggings to socks, hair bobbins and wipes while the men’s bags contained jogging bottoms, a tshirt, wipes, socks and underwear.
She said the packs were suitable for the staff themselves or for patients and they left it up to them to decide.
‘It was brilliant putting them together and it was great to be back in the store and to be part of something so unique,’ the manager added.
‘ The atmosphere in there on the day was just fantastic, everybody worked so well together. Everyone came together and there was great camraderie even though some of us had never met each other before that day.’
Greg Fallon, Area Manager, Penneys added: ‘We are proud to be donating much-needed everyday items to show our support for those working tirelessly in the fight against Covid-19. I want to thank all my colleagues in Penneys Drogheda and Dundalk who have played their part by volunteering to pack, coordinate and deliver these care packs to help the staff and patients at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital.’