Volunteers producing more than 5,000 sets of scrubs for key workers call for more funds to keep up with demand
HUNDREDS of volunteers have joined a sewing squad which has produced more than 5,000 sets of scrubs - and orders keep flying in.
Since the group was set up in early April by Gosport resident Lin Gell, the need for scrubs is growing all the time, and the dedicated team is appealing for more funding support to keep up with demand.
Team Scrubbers Serving Southampton/Portsmouth NHS areas with Scrubs has more than 1,000 members from Romsey to Eastleigh to Hayling Island and has produced clothing for hospitals across Hampshire, GP surgeries, community health teams, special schools and more.
A team of 10 volunteers met today at Gosport Masonic Hall to cut up fabric ready for stitching.
‘We are doing alright for donations but it’s not stopping, it’s just never-ending,’ said Lin, who works on this project for 18 hours a day.
‘I started with nothing eight weeks ago and now we have 300 sewers and look how many people we have helped - it’s amazing.’
Gosport MP Caroline Dinenage, who visited the team, said: ‘Team Scrubbers are the most remarkable group of local ladies, led by Lin, who is a force of nature.
‘Between them they've made hundreds of scrubs for vital front line workers - it's literally life-saving work - I'm so proud of them and it was amazing to meet a handful of them.’
Enough experienced seamstresses have joined the team to keep up with demand, but donations of money are always needed to keep buying the expensive materials needed for high quality scrubs.
Help from Hampshire county councillors Graham Burgess, Pal Hayre and Ann Briggs came as a welcome show of support, but Lin is appealing for further funds.
Lin said: ‘What we really would like is more of the county councillors to give us some money.
‘I don’t think the powers that be realise how much it is needed, we can’t do everything. We have helped people in every constituency in our area.
‘There are lovely people out there - we just need to keep going.’
Donations can be made through PayPal friends and family to [email protected] or through the Gosportarians with sort code 535005 and account number 49759612.