A Comber-based clothing business this week used its manufacturing partners in China to help in the local fight against coronavirus.
AF White may be better known for their range of elegant suits, and for kitting out the nation's kids in their school uniforms, but as the Covid outbreak puts pressure on the health service, they turned their attention to helping source Personal Protective Equipment for frontline NHS staff.
Sinclair White, who owns AF White, organised a shipment of 5,000 pieces of crucial PPE, with the first 1,000 items set to be to given to health workers at the Ulster Hospital and Ards Community Hospital this week.
Sinclair explained: “I have suppliers and partners I work with in China on a daily basis.
"They themselves had been helping out with manufacturing PPE equipment, the likes of face masks and scrubs. Now the pandemic has started to ease off in China and demand for PPE has lessened, they had access to stock that I was able to have shipped over."
Sinclair's business is one of the many throughout Northern Ireland which has adapted and responded to the need of health workers at this difficult time.
Our new #InThisTogether campaign aims to highlight the local businesses going the extra mile to help the community in times of need.
Sinclair added: “What the NHS staff are doing is such an incredible thing.
“Like everyone else, all I want is to do my bit, so if I can offer a bit of extra protection for these amazing guys while they’re up against it, then of course that’s what I’ll do.”
So help us help you - are you a business owner or know of a small business that is doing things differently to try and keep your business going? Has that business had to offer e-commerce solutions, online shops or community delivery services? Maybe you’re a business or know of a business that is sharing content online and socially to help people get through their day. Get in touch with us.
Email news@belfastlive.co.uk or peter.mcgoran@belfastlive.co.uk with ‘In This Together’ as the subject.
