Furloughed engineers volunteer to deliver food

Furloughed Finning service engineers have signed up to a community scheme to deliver food parcels to vulnerable people.

Lee Jones and Glyn Mccartney, based out of the Finning UK & Ireland branch in Lisburn, have volunteered to do their bit to help the local community at this time of national crisis.

Bosses at Finning UK & Ireland were contacted by Belfast City Council as part of a bid to recruit volunteer drivers and warehouse operatives to support its new community food distribution hub. The initiative will ensure essential food parcels are delivered to those at risk across the city either because they are self-isolating, elderly or have underlying health conditions.

Council chiefs put out an initial plea for eight delivery drivers, with Lee and Glyn being among the first to volunteer their services, and their Finning service vans, to help.

Bosses at Finning quickly arranged insurance cover and agreed to pay all fuel costs so neither of its workers will be out of pocket.

“Much of our day to day job involves meeting people on site, face to face,” explained Lee. “The government guidelines on social distancing meant that it was not safe for us to carry on doing our job and is compounded by the fact that several of our customers’ businesses have been forced to shut down temporarily.

“Supporting the community is extremely important, especially at a time like this. I am glad that I can help. I’m fortunate that I can get out to the shops, but so many people don’t have that option. Something so simple could actually make a huge difference to someone who’s stuck at home, isolated and probably very scared.”