AN army of volunteers have donated dozens of scrub suits to local NHS staff.
The group, For the Love of Scrubs, recently delivered 66 scrub suits, plus scrub bags and tunic tops to the Deeside Community Hospital after forming on April 1.
The voluntary group was formed when two women who bowl at the Jade Jones Sports Centre, Veronica Ball and Christine Mottershead, teamed up and joined the Facebook Group For the Love of Scrubs.
The aim was to help frontline NHS heroes by providing them with essential protective scrub items, which are in short supply due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Veronica started the venture by creating her own group and recruiting seamstresses from across North Wales whilst Christine – an experienced seamstress, advised and trained the teams – who are working from home during the lockdown.
Since then, dozens of scrub suits and PPE equipment has been delivered to health workers across the region.
Veronica Ball said: “Our Team of sewers and volunteer drivers must now number over 500, all Volunteers working the hours they choose, producing however many of these much-needed protective scrubs they choose to make.”
The pair organised the production of the various Scrub items, desperately needed by frontline health workers, including the Scrub Suits, the bags used to contain and boil the worn uniforms to avoid transmission of viruses from hospitals, theatre caps, and mask bands.
Orders and sizes are taken from health professionals, the material is purchased and collected if donated and delivered to the team to make.
Veronica added: “Our phones and sewing machines are going nearly 24/7 the needs are so desperate.
“I was very seriously ill back in October and had it not been for the wonderful attention I received from the Glan Clwyd Hospital, I would not be here to tell the tale.
“The least I can do now is to help our NHS by organising all these wonderful people, who sew from their hearts.
“Although confined, many stitchers now speak on the phone and through Social Media, making friends and swapping sewing tips.
“The long-term plan is to get together at the end of this pandemic, to meet up with all the new friends we have made, and to celebrate with many of the health care workers who we have supported.”
Anyone wishing to join the team can contact snikmot13@yahoo.com
Those wishing to donate funds to help purchase material can do so at https://uk.gofundme.com/f/nhs-north-wales-for-the-love-of-scrubs.
Veronica told the Leader: “We have been stunned by the kindness and generosity of the public, of charities and of councils, without whose financial help we would have no material to sew.
The radio Presenter Chris Evans, and his son Noah set up a crowdfunding scheme, and have recently donated literally tons of material to the nationwide group of 'For the Love of Scrubs.
“We had a generous share here in North Wales, which is being turned into Scrub Bags and smaller scrubs by the minute.
“Our third volunteer Christine Collins, joined us mid-April, and spends her time driving to and from, collecting donated material for smaller scrubs, storing it in her Local Church, organising sewing teams around her area, Llay, and sorting out our Social Media and IT, that confuses both Christine and I.
2We have organised tens of thousands of Scrub items since April 1, and we will keep up sewing and helping for as long as our Beloved NHS need us.”
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