A team of tradespeople from across Donegal have come together to offer their services to a unique fundraiser during Covid-19.
The project will see one lucky frontline worker being treated to a two-room home makeover after the crisis as a thank you for their selfless work.
Around 10 local contractors have already volunteered to work on a beautiful makeover free of charge. Carpentry, painting, electrics, interior design, tiling, moulding and much more will all be taken care of when the winner decides on their dream transformation.
Nominations have been flying in on GoFundMe, as friends, family and members of the public put forward the names of deserving healthcare and essential heroes.
The idea began with Letterkenny-based carpenters Terry Mc Gill and his son Gareth, who both had to down tools due to Covid-19 restrictions.
Terry then turned to tackling all the odd jobs he had been putting off at home, but when they ran out, he decided to do something to give back.
Gareth and Terry Mc Gill – T.M.G Carpentry Services
“We want to give a makeover to a frontline worker, and it’s important to say that they don’t have to be a healthcare worker. There are delivery drivers, postal workers, shopkeepers and many more people working out there because they have to,” Terry explained.
“We want to reward anyone who has had to work through this. We can’t individually thank every one of them but it’s a nice gesture to show they are all appreciated.”
The winner will get to choose what services they need to be done, and they’ll be treated to a stay at the Station House Hotel while the transformation takes place.
While the tradesmen and women are providing their services for free, the funds raised will be used on any hardware, materials or furniture that is required.
“We are conscious that the companies that we normally get materials from are out of work too, so we do not want to go to them cap in hand asking for sponsorship,” Terry explained.
The team is eager to give someone a superb new-look home depending on their needs and on funds raised in the next three weeks. Once the project is complete, any remaining money will be donated to whatever local health service is in need at the time, Terry confirmed.
“The more money we have in the kitty, the more work we can do and the more we can give back to the health services,” he said.
Photo: Thank you Donegal Frontline Heroes
Photo: Thank you Donegal Frontline Heroes
Photo: Thank you Donegal Frontline Heroes
The project has also become a platform for putting local heroes in the spotlight. Selfies and photos of local staff have been shared online for people to see the faces of those at the frontline and leave thank you messages.
“The selfies have made everybody sit up and realise that these are people who we know and who are still working while we can’t,” Terry added.
The makeover will be aimed at supporting Donegal-based workers, but it is hoped that other groups of tradespeople in counties across Ireland can adopt the idea and do similar fundraisers.
The team involved in Thank you Donegal Frontline Heroes is as follows:
- Terry and Gareth Mc Gill – T.M.G Carpentry Services
- Jason Whoriskey – Premier Painting
- Liam O’Hara – O’Hara & Harrison Electrical Contractors
- Paul Hanlon – Hanlon Tiling
- Denis Gallagher – Gallagher Mouldings
- Martin Irwin – Boiler Services
- Gina McGarvey – GMG Interiors
- Chris Breen – Donegal Creative Furnishings Ltd.
- Philip Ward – supporting the nominations and fundraising
- Jason Black – supporting social media and PR
Visit the GoFundMe page for information on donations and nomination details: https://www.gofundme.com/f/two-room-makeover-hse-staff
Visit the Facebook page for updates: Thank you Donegal Frontline Heroes
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