A footsoldier in the Angus Covid-19 volunteer army has been hailed a “godsend” by one of the locked-down OAPs she supports.
Arbroath pensioner Beatrice Gerrard said Blayre Mackellar was a shining example of the local angels who are delivering a vital role in communities throughout Courier country.
Dundee and Angus College student Blayre answered a plea by Voluntary Action Angus which has seen more than 1,000 people offer to help in the district-wide co-ordinated approach.
Beatrice, 78, of Andy Stewart Court in Arbroath said: “The situation for people like me in sheltered housing is different than for others in homes, so I contacted my local councillor Derek Wann and he told me about what had been set-up.
“I didn’t know Blayre before but she has been a godsend in bringing shopping and things like that for people like myself who have to stay in and stick by the rules.
“I just feel that people should know how much of a help the volunteers can be to them.
“When you see other people and they are so helpful to you it makes a real difference.”
Blayre, 24, said: “I’m in the middle of a mechanical engineering course at college and when it was suspended I just thought that volunteering to help was something I could easily do.
“I have a car, which is a help. Voluntary Action Angus sent the pack out and within a couple of days I was on board.
“It started off with a couple of bumps in the road, which you might expect, but since then it has gone really well.”
Voluntary Action Angus has been instrumental in coordinating the area’s response to the pandemic, putting in place community-led approach to ensure help is directed exactly where it is needed.
Angus Health and Social Care Partnership, AngusAlive, VAA, NHS Tayside and Foodbanks are involved in the initiative.
