Here’s how your breathtaking generosity has transformed lives
WHILE millions of masks and aprons have been delivered to the NHS, Mail Force has also been donating PPE to small care homes and hospices often overlooked by the system but where the need was just as desperate. Although that phase of Mail Force has come to an end, here are some of the uplifting stories of how the donations have helped.
MENCAP, KETTERING
YESTERDAY, a Mail Force van delivered the first batch of an overall donation of 350,000 masks and 120,000 aprons destined for Mencap – one of Britain’s largest social care providers.
The charity will be delivering hundreds of thousands of pieces of PPE to Mencap’s regional offices over the coming weeks.
The donations will ensure that there is a steady supply for all 8,500 Mencap employees across the UK for months to come.
And at a time when fundraising operations have fallen through the floor, providing PPE means Mencap can ensure that scarce funds will be diverted to other essential work.
Corynda Stevens, Mencap’s service manager, and area operations manager Hayley Teall received the Mail Force delivery at their offices in Kettering.
HAMPTON HOUSE, HEREFORD
BEFORE coronavirus, it was the floods. In February’s devastating Storm Dennis, Hampton House care home in Herefordshire was surrounded by water.
The manager decided to move in so that she could support the 31 residents. And just as the floods subsided, Covid-19 descended.
All of the Hampton residents – aged 85 to 106 – have remained virus free thanks of the vigilance of staff and Mail Force.
The care home’s boss Carol Thompson said: ‘I am extremely proud of the team. I can’t praise them enough.
‘Gifts like this from Mail Force will really boost morale because it just shows that people out there really do care about them.’
MELLOR NOOK, STOCKPORT
WORLD War Two heroes who put their lives on the line are now trying to stay safe from Covid-19.
At Mellor Nook – a small care home in Stockport run by husband and wife team Jim and Eleanor Critchlow – one third of residents fought in the conflict.
Before the Mail Force delivery, the Critchlows said soaring costs of face masks meant they were being ‘held over a barrel’.
Family visits were cancelled, while celebrations to mark the 5th anniversary of VE Day did not go ahead as planned. But resident
Merl Smith, 89, said: ‘Everyone’s got along very well. It’s been a family atmosphere.’ In the area, the Mail Force van also delivered to Davenport Manor and Chester House in Stockport, The Vicarage at Audenshaw and Clarkson House at Ashton -under-Lyne.