In an effort to support the vital work the NHS is doing during the COVID-19 pandemic, waste management and recycling company Powerday and London Irish Rugby Club have teamed up to take on the Corona Care Challenge #CCC and deliver thousands of meals and vital equipment to hospitals across the capital.

London is at the epicentre of the UK’s Coronavirus outbreak, accounting for 40% of the country’s cases, according to current figures. NHS staff, including those not working on the frontline, are heroically working around the clock to ensure patients receive the very best care. But, as the numbers increase, the strain will grow, compounded by the fact these key workers are struggling to purchase food items from shops and supermarkets.

Helping #PoweringTheNHS

To make sure those working on the frontline are cared for, the #PoweringTheNHS campaign will initially see Powerday and London Irish make and deliver more than 100,000 meals for NHS staff who are working under immense pressure in London and local hospitals.

The meals will be created at London Irish’s Hazelwood training ground in Sunbury, West London. Chefs from the Hazelwood kitchen team have volunteered to cook nourishing and healthy meals – regularly made for the playing squad – which will then be transported to various hospitals by Powerday and London Irish staff.

The kitchen will operate under strict operational processes as indicated by government guidelines. A minimum of 500 meals will be made every day, with the ability to increase capacity if there is a demand to do so.

Powerday, a family-run company, is calling on the waste and construction industry to join in showing their support by donating a range of vital protective equipment to the NHS, including masks, gloves and goggles, to help keep doctors and nurses safe whilst they care for all those who have fallen ill.

Edward Crossan, Vice Chairman of Powerday, commented:

“Those working on the frontline during this epidemic are true heroes. The number of lives they will save over the coming weeks will be in the thousands and we will all know someone affected by this disease. It goes without saying that we owe them a great debt of gratitude.

“We are living in unprecedented times and it’s vital that we come together to beat COVID-19, which is why I’m so proud to be leading this initiative. Hopefully we will bring together the waste and construction community to deliver food and equipment that will help keep doctors and nurses safe while they perform life-saving work. It is the least we can do, and we will be utilising Powerday and London Irish staff and company vehicles to reach as many hospitals as possible.”

If you work at a hospital or hospice or know of anyone vulnerable and in need,  then please send a message to the @Powering_The_NHS account on Instagram or email Edward Crossan at edward@powerday.co.uk