One of the flats that were destroyed in the fire at a Sandiacre block of flats belonged to Mary Watkins, a member of staff at Sandiacre Court Care Centre, a care home just a few blocks away from the Springfield Mill building.
Mary has been left with nothing but the clothes she walked into work with that day.
The care home staff are pooling together money, clothes and toiletries for her and her boyfriend, and Hudson Healthcare, the home’s operator, has matched all the money raised by staff.
Kirsty Carter, the Home Manager, said: “We are absolutely devastated for our colleague. She has lost everything. We are doing all we can to support her in this awful time.
“If Covid-19 has taught us anything, it is that in times of difficulty we must come together to support the people around us.”
Mary said:
“The outpouring of support and comfort I have received from my colleagues in the past 48 hours has been truly astonishing. Out of the kindness of their hearts, they decided to put together donations, which have now been doubled by Hudson Healthcare.
“My colleagues also bought and donated clothing, as well as providing me with additional financial support that I can put towards a deposit for a new flat. I’ve only been working at Sandiacre Court Care Centre for 3 months, and already my colleagues have become a second family and I cannot thank them enough for their selflessness.
“Their generosity has truly blown me away, even bringing me to tears on more than one occasion! It is acts of kindness such as these that have given me the hope and strength to get through this traumatic time.”
“There are no words to describe what it feels like to watch your home burn down in front of you. I couldn’t quite believe it. I was in a state of absolute shock, I still am really. I am so relieved that no one was injured in the fire, but it will take a long time to recover from this.
“I am sending my very best wishes and condolences to everyone else that has been impacted by this.”
A fundraising page has been set up to help Mary: here
