Store colleagues will be dressing up to as heroes on Friday to thank the people who have saved the lives of their loved ones.
Hayley Barnett and Diana Hill both work at The Co-operative Food in Copnor and have personal reasons to be grateful for paramedics and members of the maternity ward in Portsmouth.
So after midday on Friday 22nd May, customers shopping at the store in Copnor Road will be able to spot Batwoman, Supergirl and the Joker in its Heroes 4 Heroes day.
Hayley, who lives in Portsmouth, said: “Our aim is to honour our frontline heroes by dressing up as super heroes for the duration of our shift. As a store we wish to raise our spirits and make our customers smile, whilst giving something back to our heroes.
“Instead of asking for cash donations, we would like to suggest that customers could possibly purchase a luxury item whilst doing their essential shopping to donate to our hampers that we are currently putting together.”
The hampers collected will be donated to the local ambulance station and the Maternity Unit in Queen Alexandra Hospital.
Hayley’s daughter had a traumatic experience less than a fortnight ago giving birth but the support she received meant she now has a healthy two week old son.
Diana, who also lives in Portsmouth, said: “Friday is going to be a lot of fun but there is a serious reason behind it. Both of us have reasons to be grateful for healthcare workers. It was paramedics which have saved my daughters life twice.”
Diana’s four year old girl has uncontrolled asthma and is currently undergoing further testing after she spent three weeks a coma in the intensive care unit as well as suffering from pneumonia and acute bronchiolitis.
Diana said: “One of my friends is a paramedic so I have seen the strain she has been under during the pandemic. I owe paramedics everything. On two occasions she stopped breathing so I can’t express my appreciation for them.”
The store already has two boxes full of presents ready to be donated thanks to the generosity of in store colleagues.
If the store is inundated with donations, they would also like to share them with Cosham Fire brigade which has been working tirelessly throughout the pandemic.
Colleagues will be dressing up all afternoon at The Co-operative Food – Copnor, which is part of Southern Co-op – the regional, independent co-operative.
Customers will be asked to be mindful of social distancing but everyone is invited to join in and help colleagues celebrate their local heroes.
