Front up for the frontline

Let’s get together to support the staff in north coast hospitals and paramedics, who are doing it extremely tough at the moment.

 

With the dramatic surge in COVID cases, they're juggling many more patients, with reduced staffing (some staff have COVID or are waiting to find if they have it) and are working in hot and sweaty full PPE. Many of them work double shift after double shift, hurrying from patient to patient, with barely time to grab something to eat, let alone drink.  They are emotionally and physically exhausted, many of them close to breaking point.

 

We want to let them know how much the community appreciates them by sending in snacks and meals. As many of those working at the frontline have told us, any gesture of support from the community gives a much-needed boost to morale.

 

This GoFundMe started by sending support to workers at Byron Central Hospital (our local) and Lismore Base Hospital (which is the hospital taking all COVID patients for the whole north coast). We are now sending meals and snacks into Tweed Hospital and will start sending support into Murwillumbah hospital the week starting 14 February and hope to be supporting Ballina hospital soon. We're also sending snacks and meals into paramedic stations: Byron, Lismore and Mullumbimby initially, expanding to other north coast stations soon. 

 

With money donated we will give food and other support to frontline workers.

 

Depending on the amount raised and requests that come in from frontline workers, we will look for ways to offer other support to frontline workers outside their work environment.

We are five members of the Mullumbimby community. We have set up a separate bank account with Southern Cross Credit Union with two signatories  and both necessary for any transactions. We will pay invoices from suppliers (caterers, cafes etc) from that account and we will keep the community updated on a regular basis with regard to how the funds have been distributed and make available a statement of outgoings upon request. This account is being overseen by a volunteer bookkeeper.

 

Thank you.

 

Sarah Armstrong, Penny Wheeler, Amanda Bannatyne,  Heather Stevenson, and Jeremy Jacks. 

PS. If you have a friend or neighbour who’s a frontline worker, you might like to make them a meal, mow their lawn, give them a massage voucher or offer to walk their dog (and as one RN said to us, ‘and don’t take no for an answer!’)

PPS. Words of appreciation from the community mean a HUGE amount to our frontline health workers and sustain them as much as a delicious meal. Please consider sending a card to your local hospital. 
Here's addresses:
Emergency Department (or Fever Clinic), Byron Central Hospital, 54 Ewingsdale Rd, Ewingsdale NSW 2481. 
Emergency Department (or ICU, or COVID Wards, Lismore Base Hospital, 60 Uralba St, Lismore NSW 2480.