City leader praises community champs

When Tom McManus got word an elderly woman on his patch was struggling with just £5 in her purse, he hit the shops.

Now his boss and the shop owner who helped in his good gesture have been championed by a city leader, as all efforts go into helping those affected by the coronavirus.

Sunderland City Council worker Tom, a member of the environmental maintenance team in Washington, responded to a community request to help an elderly lady who was struggling due to self-isolation.

The woman had no food in her home, just £5 in her purse and had no one to help her, so he visited the Nisa Local in Barmston to put together a food package to deliver to her door.

Shop owner Bob Singh then donated the parcel to ensure that no one felt financial pressure.

The council has highlighted it is not the first act of kindness from Mr Singh, who has also donated 3,000 bottles of hand sanitiser to the council to ensure the safety of front-line workers during the pandemic.

Mr Singh said: "I want to tell everyone across Sunderland that while it is important to follow guidelines and keep yourself safe, please check on your elderly and vulnerable neighbours on a daily basis. They are the people who may not have food to eat or other essentials, and it is incredibly vital that they receive help from their communities."

The council is commending both men for their help during this tough time.

Fiona Brown, the executive director of neighbourhoods, said: "It is incredibly heart-warming to hear that our staff are going out of their way to ensure that the vulnerable people in our communities remain safe.

"I'd also like to say thank you to Bob Singh for his generosity in donating hand sanitisers for our front-line staff. They are working tirelessly to ensure that our city continues to run through this pandemic, and this gesture shows that their work is appreciated.”

For information, visit www.sunderland.gov.uk/coronavirus while anyone who thinks they may have symptoms can visit www.nhs.uk/ conditions/coronaviruscovid-19

Tom McManus with the food parcel that was donated by Bob Singh from Nisa Local, Barmston, Washington.