Work for NHS staff at hospitals in west Cumbria including Keswick Cottage Hospital have been made that little bit easier thanks to help from the town’s rugby club.
Jasmine Ritchie, Allerdale Borough Council’s Safety and Resilience Officer, has been delivering gift bags to NHS staff with ‘feel-good’ donations from local clubs and businesses.
Keswick Rugby Club started a collection box for pamper gifts for NHS staff at Keswick Cottage Hospital after being contacted by Jasmine. Isla Turnbull, a junior player at the club, took on the role of checking the box twice every day and collecting the donations.
Isla then made up 35 bags of gits from the donations which she and her brother Stan handed over to Jasmine last Friday at Keswick Rugby Club. The gift bags and three hampers for Keswick’s NHS community staff, were delivered by Jasmine to Keswick Hospital, where they received with great enthusiasm!
The idea came to Jasmine after seeing the effects of the PPE on her mum’s skin following shifts as a nurse at Cockermouth Hospital. She took so social media to ask for donations including lip balm, hand cream and other products to help the staff. The list of gifts has grown to include cupcakes, energy bars and other items.
Jasmine said: “I’ve been overwhelmed by the generosity of local people and businesses – especially at a time when money is tight for so many. And as I go round delivering these goody bags I know just how welcome they are to everyone. It’s great to be able to show that we care about the staff and appreciate the work they are doing.”
Anyone wishing to donate gifts, should contact Jasmine via her Facebook page.