Local paramedics will be able to get free coffee and snacks at selected local cafes, as part of a major community effort to support frontline health workers during the ongoing and increasing COVID-19 outbreak.
Staff in Emergency Departments, ICUs and COVID wards in Byron and Lismore will be provided with tasty and nutritious meals.
Some of the approximately $25,000 raised so far will also be spent on setting up accounts at local cafes so that paramedics can grab a free coffee and a snack as they rush from one job to another.
‘We really wanted to support the paramedics as well, but it’s a bit hard to reach them because they’re out on the road so much,’ said Sarah Armstrong, one of the key organisers of the fundraiser.
‘At the moment, we’re figuring out which cafes are the most popular with the paramedics when they’re on the road.’
Incredible support from local businesses
The project has also received incredible support from local businesses, even though many are facing their own struggles because of the pandemic. More than a dozen shops and food-related businesses have put their hands up to help, providing everything from fruit and snacks to a mobile cool room and a coffee machine.
‘So many places that we’ve sourced food from are already dealing with their own staffing issues as a result of the pandemic,’ Ms Armstrong said.
‘Some aren’t sure whether they can open each day, but they’re still willing to help.’
The organisers will, this week, provide their first delivery of meals to Byron Hospital, handing over dozens of pre-cooked dishes prepared by local vegan caterer, Yummify.
Lismore Hospital will also receive their first shipment soon, with local business Mayfield Kitchen providing the meals.
The impact of the project is being felt before the food even hits the plates of nurses and other frontline staff.
A morale booster
‘We’ve had messages from staff saying how much it boosts their morale,’ Ms Armstrong says.
‘To know that the community is supporting them and expressing their appreciation makes a big difference.’
Organisers are asking locals to who haven’t yet donated to visit the project’s GoFundMe page Front Up for the Font Line and help them achieve their goal of raising $50,000.
‘We’re encouraging people to tune in with anyone they know who might want to donate and point them toward the Facebook page or the GoFundMepage: www.bit.ly/3rrJo70.
Recent stories, information and updates regarding COVID-19
New data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics Life shows life expectancy in Australia has decreased slightly for the second year in a row. An international team of researchers has found more evidence that COVID-19 came from animals in a Wuhan food market. The lab-leak theory that Covid-19 came from the Wuhan Institute of Virology – instead of a nearby wet market – was thrashed about in public recently, with the US Senate Homeland Security Committee holding a hearing into Covid-19. Eighteen schools in the Northern Rivers division of Richmond have received $25,000 each as part of the federal government’s School Upgrade Fund, Labor Member for Richmond Justine Elliot said last week. COVID-19 reversed earlier trends toward longer life expectancies. During the pandemic, life expectancies globally dropped by 1.6 years according to a new study published in the Lancet medical journal. Let’s not forget that Covid-19 is still a big issue in our community with 31,935 cases reported across Australia in the last week – an average of 4,562 cases per day. The Global Carbon Budget is about to be refreshed, giving the world a critical insight into how efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions are (or are not) progressing. Masks will no longer be mandatory on public transport from tomorrow, Wednesday 21 September. SW Police are urging festival-goers at this weekend’s music festival to celebrate in a safe and responsible manner, whilst also being aware of COVID-Safety measures. The Northern NSW Local Health District reports that to 4pm yesterday, Sunday May 22, there were 40 COVID-19 positive patients in hospital in Northern NSW, with one of these in ICU.
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