South Tyneside hospital worker launches gift collection and raffle for key workers as she shields at home during coronavirus outbreak

Gillian Malcolm usually works at the radiology department of South Tyneside District Hospital – but she has been ordered to self-isolate at home for her own safety during the Covid-19 outbreak due to underlying health problems.

While she cannot work alongside her colleagues, she has instead dedicated her free time to making gifts and collecting donations for key workers, patients, care home residents and other vulnerable people who have to stay at home.

Gillian, who lives near the Nook in South Shields with husband Andrew and sons Cameron and Lucas, began making her own bath-salt gifts for key workers, before putting the call out for wider donations.

Now, she has been inundated with responses and plans to hold a raffle to raise money to buy more essentials for those who need them.

The mum-of-two told the Gazette: “After making these little gifts I had seen that people were collecting toiletries and other essentials for South Shields and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust.

“I thought this was an amazing thing to do, especially since patients were no longer allowed visitors. I decided to set up a Facebook page to see if I could help with this effort.”

To date, Gillian has donated toiletries and pamper treats to Radiology and ITU at South Tyneside District Hospital, the Covid-19 ward at Sunderland Royal Hospital and Hawthorn Court Care Home in Hebburn.

People have also been contributing to the cause by delivering essentials to Gillian’s doorstep, or through making a donation purchase via her Amazon wish list.

She has also received an ‘amazing’ amount of donations through Amazon Wishlist South Shields, Tyne and Wear.

Now, she hopes her raffle will raise much-needed funds for more items and provide a treat during a time of darkness.

The raffle will be drawn on Friday, May 1. Prizes include a takeaway for two from Spice One in South Shields, a Starbucks voucher, wine, sweets and toiletries which have been donated, with permission.

If you would like to take part, you can contact Gillian via her Facebook profile here, use her Facebook group here, or make a donation through PayPal using [email protected].

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