THE HEROES WHO HELPED US THROUGH 2020
IT’S BEEN A TOUGH YEAR, BUT THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC BROUGHT PEOPLE TOGETHER WHEN IT WAS NEEDED THE MOST
MANY people in North East Lincolnshire stepped up and helped in the coronavirus emergency throughout 2020.
The weekly applause for our NHS heroes attracted hundreds of people who stood on their dorsteps every Thursday evening and brought the community together in appreciation of their bravery and dedication. Flags were raised at Cleethorpes Remembrance Gate in their honour.
A large number of individuals went above and beyond in their effort to ensure everyone was kept safe and nurtured as the months of the pandemic lingered, peaked and surged and tragically took hundreds of lives.
To safeguard elderly people and those having to shield from outside contact, stalwarts in almost every community stepped forward to do whatever they could. Delivering food and medicines became a lifeline for many individuals unable to go out.
There was also super effort in fund raising for NHS charities in support of the staff at hospitals and in the community.
Tom Moore, became a national hero by walking 100 laps of his garden to raise money.
The war veteran marched into his 100th birthday and raised £32million for NHS Charities Together. Locally, leading the way was assistant headteacher at Western Primary School, Zane Powles.
He walked 7.5 miles a day for 17 weeks – and totalled more than 600 miles over this period to ensure children had meals during lockdown. He carried the equivalent of four tonnes in weight.
He was then honoured by North East Lincolnshire Council for undertaking a 1,500 mile cycling fundraiser around the UK for two charities, visiting some of his favourite castles, including Ross Castle in Cleethorpes.
In a delayed Queen’s Birthday Honours list in October, Zane was presented with an MBE for his outstanding work during the pandemic.
The 48-year-old former Grenadier Guardsman will be returning to Buckingham Palace, where he used to be on duty, to receive his medal. edal. In recognition of the e inspirational crusade e by Colonel Tom m Moore, local chainsaw w expert Simon Bogg of Xtreme Chainsaw was as moved by the heroic ic efforts of the retired d tank commander. He made a life sized ed carving of Tom and rafaffled it. He and his partrtner Adele raised more re than £7,000 for NHS Charities. Every Thursday evening at 8pm residents gathered in their streets at a social distance and clapped in appreciation of those working in hospitals and in communities and in care homes.
North East Lincolnshire Council staff delivered nearly 1,500 essential food parcels to needy residents in the borough at the start of the Covid emergency.
Two months into the national lockdown, hundreds of residents have had to rely on deliveries of food given by North East Lincolnshire Council, or the NHS, or from volunteers.
Many had been shielding due to their age or because of an underlying health condition which makes them more susceptible to the virus. There are around 4,000 people who have needed to be shielded during the fight against Covid-19.
Staff from North East Lincolnshire Council delivered to 112 residents’ homes each week, with more than 170 parcels.
The Rock Foundation and fellow charity We Are One Foundation supplied the most in need with hundreds of food parcels each week.
Many of those receiving the parcels said they were a lifeline.
Rock volunteers handed out more than 900 parcels in one week at the height of the pandemic.
In New Waltham, a group of around 21 volunteers carry out deliveries of prescriptions to 85 residents and around 20 receive their shopping thanks to the volunteers.
In Waltham, more than 200 receive their shopping from the volunteer team of 29, who also supply ply around 30 people with th medicines from the local al chemist shop.
Both teams have been en supplied with facemasks ks from Flatfish Ltd of Stirrling Street, Grimsby. Waltham Parish Counncil also gave its village ge volunteers gloves.
Many of the volunn teers were assisted by the Blue Lights Brigade made up of former servicemen and women from the emergency services. They delivered essential medicines and food to elderly people and those having to shield. Inspirational William Parker delivered food to many of his elderly neighbours.
William, 15, of Beesby Drive, adapted his bicycle so he could pull a trailer to deliver essential supplies to elderly neighbours and vulnerable people living in the resort.
Each day he went to shops to buy the goods on shopping lists given to him by around 25 residents.
Most live alone in nearby Beech Way, Maritime Court, Aspen Court and Wells Way.