Tasmanian online community raises funds for care packs for the state’s most vulnerable

Covid care packs for the state’s most vulnerable are being prepared to be delivered from next week, as a grassroots community movement springs into action. HOW TO HELP >>

A GRASSROOTS Tasmanian movement set up to share information about Covid-19 after the state border reopening is now supporting the state’s most vulnerable in a very practical way.

As the Covid pandemic grinds on amid a wave of Omicron infections in Tasmania, a GoFundMe page has been established to supply Covid-safe care packs to people over 65 in an attempt to shield them from the virus.

Belinda Pelly, the creator of a Facebook page set up to post known Covid community exposure sites which now has more than 50,000 followers, said the latest endeavour was full of goodwill.

“With such a platform of 50,000 people, we wanted to use it for good right now to make a difference,’’ she said.

The care packs will include items like surgical and P2 masks, hand sanitiser, painkillers, soothers, hydrolyte tablets, along with a selection of treats and healthy snacks.

In just two days, the page has raised almost $3000 of a $10,000 goal and from Monday, packs will be distributed to those who need it the most.

“Our group members who are over 65 may not have a large support network and might actually be a little bit scared or worried to be in busy shops,’’ Ms Pelly said.

Belinda Pelly.

Ms Pelly said the cost of items to keep Covid-safe could easily add up.

“We don’t want to see people needing to reuse old surgical masks because they are on a pension,’’ she said.

“We’re more than happy to be using the group to raise the money to support these people at the moment.”

Ms Pelly, who lives in Weegena near Deloraine, said the packs were going to be put together in the locality’s community hall.

“We’ve had so many people in the group offer to help in whatever way they can, people offering to come out and help us with the packs and so many beautiful people who have offered to deliver the packs,’’ she said.

Jeddah Barwick from Dunalley Neighbourhood House and her daughter Arden (2) with some of the items that are to be distributed in care packs. Picture: Linda Higginson

Jeddah Barwick, the manager of the Dunalley Tasman Neighbourhood House, is involved with the movement and said making people feel cared for was a powerful thing.

“Every individual matters and sometimes a lot of people are invisible to others,’’ she said.

“For us, reaching out and giving them a care pack, it’s really valuable to let someone know that there are people that care and that they matter.

“We’re in the middle of a crisis and people can forget they can do little things, and that not everything is beyond us.”

To donate, visit www.gofundme.com/f/stay-safe-packs-for-tasmanians

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