THE LIMERICK COVID-19 Community Response has issued a call to action for members of the community to get on board and support the volunteer programme.
A short video launched by the group calls on members of the public to volunteer for the programme, which will coordinate delivery of messages, prescriptions and dissemination of relevant information to elderly people or others who are in isolation to help them stay at home and protect them from the Coronavirus.
Limerick COVID-19 Community Response from Limerick City and County Council on Vimeo.
The video was released a day after the ‘Community Call’ programme was launched nationwide to coordinate, through local authorities, the volunteer response to help those marginalized by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mayor of Limerick City and County, Cllr Michael Sheahan said, “we know what it means to come together through highs, or through lows. But whether sun shines, or clouds gather over, we always stand together.”
The Mayor noted more than ever, “we do that” as he and other members of Limerick groups called on the public to get involved.
Led by Limerick City and County Council in partnership with An Garda Síochána and the HSE, the initiative is backed by Limerick GAA, Munster Rugby, IRFU, FAI, Liveable Limerick, the Catholic Church and Church of Ireland, Limerick Volunteer Centre and multiple sporting and volunteer groups.
Based at the Munster GAA headquarters – home also of Limerick GAA – the Limerick COVID-19 Community Response invites volunteers to email volunteer@limerick.ie if they want to help and those needing assistance to call the 1800 832 005 freephone helpline or the covidsupport@limerick.ie email address.
It operates from 8am to 8pm. daily and is led by Limerick City and County Council, An Garda Síochána and the HSE and backed by up to 40 sporting, community and religious groups across the city and county.
Said Anne Rizzo of Limerick City and County Council: “We are really pleased with the reaction. We have a great volunteer response and the calls from people seeking assistance or information are growing by the day.
“Our short video has also now been launched and is a simple explainer video for the service and it is being shared widely, again reflecting the level of support for this initiative. We are entering a critical period in the fight against COVID-19 and it’s essential that we spread the word that this service is here for those who need it.
“As Mayor Michael Sheahan says in the video, we need to distance right now but we’ve never been closer.”
