#pledgescrubs campaign that began in Donegal is a huge success

With an initial goal of E1,000, the Go Fund Me campaign has now surpassed that and more, sitting at near to E60,000 yesterday.

This funding has resulted in hundreds upon hundreds of sets of scrubs, of which there is a scarcity, being gifted to health care staff in hospitals both north and south.

The garments will be manufactured by Moville Clothing, a 150-year-old Inishowen business, whose owners and staff were inspired to help when they saw the sterling work undertaken by health workers as the world fights Covid-19.

Owners and brothers Ray and Hilary Doherty, their families and the 10 staff - some of whom are working from home - have been inundated with orders and are ‘honoured’ to be able to help. The garments are being produced at cost price, meaning more will go exactly where they need to.

Edel MacBride, renowned for her own beautiful clothing, was the driving force behind the Go Fund Me campaign and told the ‘Journal’ she was moved to help after she saw a plea by a nurse online.

“I saw a post from a nurse on a group site with the opening line: ‘Can anybody help me?’ She had bought a sheet from Argos to make scrubs and was looking for information about how she’d go about it.”

The nurse’s plea played on Edel’s mind and she began to research how she could help. She was alerted to Moville Clothing, which traditionally makes legal and ministerial garments, but who had begun to make scrubs at cost price in recent weeks.

She also saw a tweet from a surgeon in Northern Ireland, who said he had placed an order. Edel contacted the surgeon, to enquire if there was a large need for scrubs. He told her that while some are supplied, ‘with the times that are in it, they would need all they could get.’

Edel decided that she wanted to pay for some scrubs and rang Ray at Moville Clothing to enquire if this would be possible. During the course of the conversation, she raised the idea of a ‘pledge’ initiative, where people could pay to pledge scrubs for a healthcare worker and Ray was ‘all for it.’ Neither Edel nor Moville Clothing could have foreseen the response of the public.

“What has happened since has woken me up to how much of a need there is,” said Edel.

“There is so much diversity in the people who have been contributing and their reasons for doing so. I think the feeling, among many people, is that this gives them an opportunity to do something. Many are saying that this is a practical idea and that’s why they want to support it.”

Edel admitted how she initially ‘had a dream’ that enough would be raised for 1,000 scrubs, ‘but I never thought we’d get it and now we’ve surpassed it’.

“It’s such a bad time for many people, but I’m lucky that I have my health and my energy and I feel so trusted to be able to do this. I’m not someone who asks for money easily, but I feel empowered to do this, as the cause is so right.”

Orders have been coming in left, right and centre and the staff at Moville Clothing and Edel have been working with hospitals and facilities to outline where they will go. Some have already been delivered.

Ray Doherty, who owns Moville Clothing, and his wife Fiona were on their way to Altnagelvin Hospital to deliver scrubs when the Journal spoke to them. Ray told how they too felt honoured to be able to help all those who are at the forefront of caring for us all in this crisis.

“It’s great to be part of the response of helping people on the front line and to know you’re being a good help. We’re just doing our very best to fulfil that.”

Ray said he and his brother Hilary decided to make scrubs when they became aware there were issues with low supply across Europe.

They contacted all those who had placed orders for other garments, explained what they hoped to do and asked if they could wait for their orders. All of them kindly agreed.

The 10 ladies who work in the company set about creating the scrubs with gusto and despite five of them having to self isolate as they are older, they continue to do so from home.

The company aims to turn around 500 sets of scrubs per week. Their work has been lauded across the country and they have already appeared on RTE News.

Ray said he is delighted that the work of sewers and manufacturers is once again being recognised. He praised O’Neill’s in Strabane, who are also making scrubs.

The phone in Moville ‘has not stopped,’ and Ray’s own phone had to be taken in charge by Fiona, who is also continuously taking orders.

But hard work and helping the community is something the family and Moville Clothing has not been shy of in the last 150 years, beginning with Ray’s grandfather, Harry, a tailor in Derry and his parents, Harry and Mary Francis, who alongside the factory, raised 19 children.

Ray thanked his staff for all their hard work and dedication. You can donate at www.gofundme.com/f/pledgescrubs