One lucky frontline worker in Donegal will be winning a two-room home makeover this Saturday thanks to a unique local fundraiser.
Over €3,000 has been raised to fund a mini home transformation as part of the ‘Thank you Donegal Frontline Heroes‘ campaign.
The campaign brought a team of local tradespeople and contractors together to offer their services free of charge to treat one special person, whose name will be drawn tomorrow evening.
Nominees are being collected from friends, family and members of the public who put forward the names of deserving healthcare and essential heroes as they donate to the GoFundMe campaign.
The winner will get to decide what work they would like done in their house, with carpentry, painting, electrics, interior design, tiling, moulding and many more services available to them free of charge. Funds raised in recent weeks will be used on any hardware, materials or furniture that is required.
The idea began in April with Letterkenny-based carpenters Terry Mc Gill and his son Gareth, who both had to down tools due to Covid-19 restrictions.
They wanted to give something back to the people who are working during the pandemic. While many healthcare workers are being appreciated, the fund aims to recognise all frontline services, including delivery drivers, postal workers, transport workers, shopkeepers and many more people working in the community.
“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,” Terry said.
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.
Once the project is complete, any remaining money will be donated to a local health service.
The Thank You 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.
There is still time to support the fund and nominate a worker ahead of the draw.
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