Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Volunteers ‘blown away’ by response to Tele campaign
N H S volu nte e r s h ave been overwhelmed by donations through the Te l e ’s E s s e nt i a l s B o x campaign – but say there is still room for lots more.
The 20-strong volunteer team – some of whom have come out of retirement to help – have been assisting employees to prepare the boxes for patients and staff.
Gregor Angus and Marcel Al-Horoub, who are both hoping to become medical students this year, are already involved in volunteer work with the NHS.
They are helping to sort out the Essentials Boxes, and while the volume of donations has been enormous, it’s nothing they can’t handle.
Gregor, from Newport, said: “We decided to start volunteering as a way of supporting our applications to become medical students and we have done it for nearly two years now.
“We are sorting out packages of donations which have come from all over, boxing them up for Covid19 patients and delivering them all over the hospital.
“It’s been a good amount but nothing we can’t manage so we could always do with more.
“It is definitely helping to lift the patients’ spirits.
“I find helping out very satisfying so I think the volunteering has definitely strengthened our passion to become medical students.”
Marcel, from Tayport, added: “It is especially good for people who are coming in and haven’t had a chance to bring anything with them.
“I would urge the public to keep sending donations in – we could always do with more.”
Alison Smith, who retired from her role in the employability services department at NHS Tayside in January, is now back working alongside the donations team.
She said: “As a team we have been absolutely overwhelmed by the generosity and kindness of the people in Tayside and blown away by the way people have pulled together.
“In a way you expect this from the people of this area as they are so kind anyway but they have gone the extra mile.
“The way that people have thought about what a vulnerable person might like is so inspiring.
“What has also been terrific is the way people in the hospital have all pulled together and joined in to do their very best. It makes a very difficult situation maybe just a little better.
“It is quite humbling. The public have been remarkable and we are so grateful.”