(TAN): British Airways has donated more than 200,000 items including washbags, socks, snacks and blankets to more than 90 community projects, NHS hospitals, care homes and food banks across the UK to support the Covid-19 response.
Lydia Lowe, Senior Staff Nurse at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust who received some of the donations, said: “The toiletries that British Airways provided have brought much joy to the nursing teams here. They have also enabled us to create toiletry packs for children and their carers who arrive into the hospital as an emergency admission; often unprepared for an overnight stay.”
“Our families have been incredibly grateful to be given such a basic necessity on their arrival. Small things, such as these, can have a massive impact on our young people and their carers – giving them one less thing to have to worry about,” she added.
Since March, the airline has donated products and much needed essentials and care packages to support communities, front-line medical professionals and patients being treated for Covid-19 and continues to offer help where it is most needed.
Items donated by the airline include 74,000 toothbrush/toothpaste kits, 32,000 pairs of first-class socks, 24,000 blankets, 30,000 disposable razors, 4,000 eye masks, 3,500 amenity kits, 390 first class pyjama sets , 4,000 handwash /creams, 11,000 snacks, 12,000 food tray boxes, 2,600 soft drinks, 500 cereal bowls, 500 spoons and 6,300 kids’ activity packs for charities supporting vulnerable children.
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Dr Maria Stasiowska, Consultant Neuroanaesthesia and Pain Medicine at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, UCLH, said: “With British Airways’ contribution, we were able to provide support to our members of staff all of whom in various capacities are working tirelessly to provide care to all those in need especially during this period. The outpouring of support and demonstration of kindness shown by British Airways was timely and we remain grateful and appreciative.”
Amerjit Chohan, Chief Executive at St George’s Hospital Charity, said: “The washbags were given out to staff and they have loved them. Our front-line staff are currently working around the clock and in a lot of cases they haven’t been able to buy the bare essentials, so these are a great treat.”
British Airways staff have also been giving up their time and have been using their skills and expertise to volunteer and support various organisations across the UK. More than 1,100 colleagues have volunteered in their local communities to date, including working at Covid 19 test centres, helping communities with practical assistance through charities including the British Red Cross, supporting the NHS, caring for those in need with organisations including St John’s Ambulance and volunteering at food banks, to make a positive difference.
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Louise Evans, British Airways Director of External Communications and Sustainability said: “In these difficult times, we are pleased that we have been able to support key workers and communities in need. Whilst these gestures may seem small, we hope they have made a big difference to key workers and local communities up and down the country.”
