Brenda’s facemasks are a big hit for hospice at Barnstaple pharmacy
Key workers at a North Devon pharmacy have been going above and beyond during the Covid pandemic.
As well as ensuring customers have been able to continue to pick up vital prescriptions, staff at the Bear Street Pharmacy in Barnstaple have sold homemade face masks to raise hundreds of pounds for Children’s Hospice South West, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2021.
Pharmacy manager Brenda Loder, who has worked at the pharmacy for 32 years, began making the masks at the start of the pandemic, selling them for £3 each and raising more than £700 for the charity, which runs the Little Bridge House children’s hospice in Fremington.
“I found a pattern on YouTube and used leftover material from clothes I had made,” said Brenda, who even recycled her old uniform to make her own matching mask.
“I’m really pleased we’ve been able to sell so many masks to help the children’s hospice and would like to thank all our lovely customers for buying them and supporting the charity at this terrible time.”
Little Bridge House supports around 200 local families and care has been adapted during the pandemic to ensure Covid-safe support wherever and whenever families need it, including in the hospice, and for the first time ever, in families’ own homes.
CHSW community fundraiser Dominic Scotting said: “The pandemic has had a big impact on fundraising, so incredible support like this from Brenda and her colleagues and customers will make a very real difference to families who need our love and support now more than ever.”