Meet Eddie Boult, a bricklayer by trade. Like countless others, heโs facing economic hardships amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Workโs almost impossible to come by.
Heโs been staying in the Fownes Hotel in Worcester, England for the last few weeks. The hotelโs been incredibly accommodating during the pandemic, refusing to close. Instead, theyโve opened their doors to those who need it most.
Eddieโs been putting his former trade experience to use, building structures for the hotel as a sign of gratitude.
Eddie explains,
โI did it because I was bored but also as a thank you to the staff. Theyโve really looked after me.โ
The hotelโs been a beacon of hope amid dark days.
The Fownes usually charges in the ballpark of ยฃ155 a night, but theyโve relaxed their rules during the pandemic.
Meanwhile, Eddieโs been paying them back in trade. In fact, he finished a new wall and patio within a matter of four days.
The Fownes staff members have become heroes in their own right. In cooperation with a local homeless charity, theyโve given free rooms to the homeless and disenfranchised, easing the burden for dozens in the Worcester area.
The hotel has provided sanctuary for a total of 45 temporary guests.
48-year-old Peter Swinbourne, a fellow guest at the Fownes, believes that the hotel and staff essentially โsavedโ him. Heโs been homeless for 25 years.
Peter goes on to state,
โI have never slept in a double bed before. Iโm happy hereโthis is a five-star hotel putting up homeless people.โ
Other guests sing a similar tune. Terence Marriott, a 55-year-old thatโs been staying at the Fownes for six weeks states,
โI have been well looked after. It has been excellent. The food is also excellent. I feel a lot healthier than when I came in.โ
The hotelโs assistant manager Julie Merrick explains the hotel experience amid the pandemic,
โOur new guests have been lovely and grateful for the support they had been given and treat their rooms with respect. We stayed open simply because we wanted to help.โ
You love to see it โ people helping people.
The hotelโs been incredibly careful during the process, stressing sanitation and proper social distancing measures. As a precaution, the staffโs removed alcohol from the hotel bars and strategically placed chairs in ways to prevent viral spread.
Fortunately, no coronavirus cases have been reported from the hotel during the crisis.
The Fownes put a couple safety documents on display to reinforce proper social distancing procedures,
โCoronavirus โ Wash your hands more often for 20 seconds.โ
Even the hotelโs encountered its own economic hardships, furloughing 15 staff members over the recent months. Currently, the hotelโs maintained by a small crew of 11. But theyโre getting through it, one day at a time. The new guests have helped a lot.
Julie goes on to add,
โWeโre the only hotel in Worcester doing this. Everybody else closed their doors. My staff are very brave. They have gone above their job role, absolutely. It has brought us all closer together as a team.โ
In fact, the hotel has a history of righteous deeds, including opening their doors to about 30 people displaced by floods that plagued Worcester in February.
The Fownes Hotel Worcester deserves high praise for their efforts amid the coronavirus pandemic. The crisis hasnโt been easy for anyone, but the hotelโs heroic acts continue to shine light amid otherwise dark days.
Eddie and the Fownes staffers are setting a wonderful example of compassion during the pandemic. Like them, weโll get through this together.
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