Community Matters: Let's Get Scrubbing for the NHS

5 years ago Mon 15th Jun 2020

We'd like to say a massive thank you to everyone who helped us transport hundreds of hand-made scrubs to an NHS care home in Wick last week.

The scrubs were made by 'Let's Get Scrubbing for the NHS', a local group of about 80 volunteer sewers in Mid-Argyll and Kintyre who have been making scrubs for frontline workers since the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak. To date, as well as covering the local area, the group have supplied scrubs to hospitals and care homes across Argyll and Glasgow. They provide everything from scrubs to laundry bags and mask bands.

Last week, we helped transport a delivery from Ardrishaig all the way north to a NHS care home up in Wick.

woman bent over sewing machine

Our friends at Shiel Coaches and Scotrail helped us complete this awesome multi-leg journey.

Monday 08 June:

two men standing in front of red coach holding boxes

The packages were taken from our Ardrishaig depot (supervisor Robert MacKay left) to our Oban depot by Robert MacKay Snr (right). 

two men standing in front of red coach holding boxes

Robert MacKay Snr (right) hands over to Oban Operations Manager Russell Dods (left).

Tuesday 09 June:

two men standing in front of blue coach holding boxes

Joe Cormack from our Oban team (right) passes the delivery on to Dennis Fomicous of Shiel Coaches (left) at Fort William.

selfie of two men, one with a mask on

From Fort William Bus Station, Dennis (left) drives onward to Inverness Train Station to pass on to Scotrail's Ewan Anderson (right).

Wednesday 10 June:

woman and man conductors stand in front of train with cardboard boxes

The scrubs make it by train to Wick. ScotRail conductors Kevin Docherty and Marie Burns are ready and waiting to collect the boxes.

two women stand with cardboard boxes in front of Wick train station

The scrubs were then picked up by a volunteer from the train station and delivered Pulteney House Care Home in Wick.

The total distance travelled was 250 miles. The team at Pulteney House were delighted.

three women standing in front of care home holding scrubs

care home workers wearing new hand-made scrubs posing next to large Oor Wullie statue

A huge shout out to our Ardrishaig supervisor Robert MacKay who coordinated the whole journey.

A massive thank you also to Shiel Coaches and Scotrail, whose help we very much appreciate.

Keeping our local communities moving has been at the forefront of our operations throughout the coronavirus outbreak, and we're honoured to be able to help local projects like Let's Get Scrubbing for the NHS as they deliver essential supplies to the front line.

This brilliant story has even made it to the paper, check out the John O'Groat Journal's article for more.