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Volunteers move to help isolated

Tristan WheelerManjimup-Bridgetown Times
Sarah-Jayne Griffiths
Camera IconSarah-Jayne Griffiths Credit: Manjimup-Bridgetown Times/Ben Verrall

Communities around the South West are coming together to offer responses to the COVID-19 virus.

One group of Pemberton volunteers has organised plans to help those affected by COVID-19.

They call themselves the Pemberton Happy Helpers and they are planning to support residents required to self-isolate.

The model they have adopted calls for two to three volunteers to adopt a street, informing residents of the assistance they can provide to them.

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Some of the services they hope to provide include picking up shopping, posting mail and providing urgent supplies as well as communication via email or telephone with isolated members of the community.

The idea was conceived by Sarah-Jayne Griffiths of Pemberton, who said she was inspired by other similar programs that had started recently.

Mrs Griffiths said she hoped people would realise everyone is in this situation together.

“Surely there is something we can do to make sure those people who should be self-isolating or are told to self-isolate feel that they can,” she said.

In Bridgetown, a resident who has asked to be identified only as Lynn, has begun to put together care packages for the elderly and isolated members of the community.

She plans to use the extra money received from the Federal stimulus package to put together the packages of non-perishable goods.

“I need to do something positive to put back into the community,” she said.

“If we do come to the situation that our over 70s or our most vulnerable are asked to self-isolate for a period of time to reduce their risk of exposure, then having something tucked away for that rainy day might give them that peace of mind.”

In Nannup, Marion Duke from Forest Hemp Soapsmith is giving away free soap to those in need.

Despite shutting her business temporarily during the COVID-19 outbreak, the products will available in a box at the front of the Forest Hemp Factory in Nannup.

She is asking for donations of soap and shampoo bottles, to be refilled with liquid hand soap, and that people pay her kindness forward to other members of the community.

“At the end of the day we can spread love and kindness,” she said.

“There’s only two things that will get us out of this mess and that is to love each other and wash your hands.”

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