During the Covid-19 pandemic, The Channel Islands Co-operative Society donated hundreds of bottles of hand sanitiser and digital thermometers to care homes and nurseries in Jersey. 
In Jersey, the Society assisted 49 care providers and 17 nurseries, donating 124 cases of hand sanitiser and more than 1,000 digital thermometers at a time when such equipment was vital for remaining open as an essential workplace.

Always committed to the needs of local communities, The Channel Islands Co-operative Society reached out to both the care and education sectors in late 2020 to begin offering hand sanitiser and thermometers to those needing the items in order to operate safely.

Helen Ruane, manager at Charley Farley’s Too Day Nursery said, ‘The donation of hand sanitisers and digital thermometers has been an amazing help. To follow physical distancing, we have split the nursery into ‘bubbles’ so having a thermometer and sanitiser for each ‘bubble’ has meant that we could remain open with all safety precautions in place for staff, children and parents.’

(Pictured above) Helen Ruane, manager at Charley Farley’s Too Day Nursery

Residential care homes, home care providers and supported living facilities in Jersey responded very positively to the donations as well, helping care to continue for elderly residents.

‘I cannot tell you how delighted everyone in the care home and home care providers sector is regarding this donation. Thermometers have been in limited supply of late and with growing costs in this sector, this was a very welcome donation,’ said Cheryl Kenealy, chairperson for the Jersey Care Federation.

(Pictured above) Cheryl Kenealy, chairperson for the Jersey Care Federation

Ell Hopton, the Society’s community and sustainability manager, said, ‘It has been a privilege to support these key sectors within our community. It was important for us to offer help to other frontline essential services which may have found finances or resources to be limited following a difficult year in 2020. We’re pleased to know that these donations have helped to make a real difference in our community.’

The sanitiser donated had an alcohol content of 75% + 5% ethanol which exceeds the minimum required for industry standards. The thermometers given were non-contact, infrared devices, designed to be handheld and operated whilst maintaining physical distancing.

In total across the Channel Islands, the Society donated approximately 200 cases of hand sanitiser and over 1,500 thermometers to support staff in residential care homes and essential workers at nurseries.