Sheffield charity passes PPE to good causes after big-hearted donations lead to extra supplies

A Sheffield charity overwhelmed by the generosity of local businesses is donating extra supplies of personal protective equipment to other good causes in need.

Sheffield Churches Council for Communities Care (SCCCC) issued a PPE plea early in the coronavirus pandemic to help protect volunteers and staff on the frontline of caring for the city’s older people.

But thanks to big-hearted donations from local organisations and businesses, the charity has given excess kit to others in need- including a furniture charity and a foodbank.

St Vincent’s Furniture Store is a charity which redistributes recycled furniture to disadvantaged people. It’s recently reopened and sought advice from SCCCC around the procedures it has put in place to protect its service users, staff and volunteers.

Handsworth Foodbank is part of the Trussell Trust group, which has reported increased demand as people face extra financial hardship as a result of the pandemic.

Mark Storey, CEO at SCCCC, said: “We’re really grateful for everyone who answered our appeal for PPE, which has helped us to continue to provide much needed care and support to older people at a time of exceptional need. However, we felt it was only right to pass forward any excess supplies to some of the partners we work with closely.”

Michael Healy, Furniture Store Manager at St Vincent’s, said: “This really generous donation from SCCCC has been pivotal to us getting back up and running. Having initially struggled to source PPE, the donation has plugged the gap and means that we’ve been able to resume some parts of our service.

“We remain desperate for beds and other household items like sofas and small electrics, as donations were hit badly by our forced closure as a result of the pandemic.”

SCCCC has continued to provide its services to isolated, older people in Sheffield throughout lockdown.

Good Neighbour Scheme volunteers have swapped visits for phone calls to help keep older people company, dozens of people have responded to the newly launched Pen pal appeal and the charity has maintained the help it gives to older people when returning from hospital.

For more information about SCCCC or to donate, visit www.scccc.co.uk/donate.

ENDS