L IGH T E R S I D E AMC helps Dublin homeless With most removal businesses only running essential moves, such as hospital relocations, during lockdown, Dublin-based AMC Removals was one of those that found itself with excess capacity which it set about using for good. Managing Director Aubrey McCarthy said: We contacted some of our longterm customers to assemble a crew of volunteers from AMC and partnered with The Lighthouse homeless caf in Dublin. The aim of the venture was to support the capitals homeless people with a hot meal, snacks and a drink every day. As restaurants and fast-food outlets around the city closed down, McCarthy contacted McDonalds and secured 6,000 burgers, while other suppliers donated the burger The sanitation station, donated by one of AMCs corporate customers buns. The company also placed a container outside its offices, where people could donate food and other supplies. AMC began serving take-out parcels consisting of a hot meal, fruit, crisps, a chocolate bar and a drink packed and served by AMC crews. One of AMCs corporate customers also bought a large sanitisation station, so people could sanitise before receiving their parcel. When the weather became sunny and hot, AMC also organised for ice-cream vans to come to the site and supply ice creams free of charge while, at Easter, 423 Easter eggs were given as gifts. The initiative went from strength to strength, with coverage on social media and national television leading to further support and donations. One viewer gave 20,000 on seeing a programme, said McCarthy, while we had a donation of 10,000 from the Bermuda Irish Association, that saw posts on Facebook. In total, the venture has served more than 35,000 meals during the crisis and, 16 weeks after starting (as FIDI Focus went to press), it is still going. McCarthy said: The first day, there were 134 people, which rose to a peak of 488. Now we have a consistent 350 every day. This has all been made possible with the support and kindness of so many people. It has been amazing teamwork by everyone, including AMCs corporate customers, who got on board and played a huge part in fundraising and delivering this. The COVID-19 crisis allowed us to focus Dublins homeless community were given food parcels and when the weather got hot, ice cream AMC Removals staff on duty at The Lighthouse cafe, Dublin on what was really important, to reach out to those who are in trouble and show us that we are all in this together. AMC has agreed to continue helping The Lighthouse caf service by donating a day every week. GAC INTERNATIONAL GETS PLAYFUL GAC International Moving has been providing playhouses made from packaging materials for children around the Middle East region during lockdown. Shawn Wood, the companys Regional Manager, International Moving, said: The simple concept of providing some playhouses for kids in the community during these COVID times has been fun and rewarding for the GAC International Moving team. The response from the communities we serve has been incredible. The company has delivered more than 150 playhouses to children in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Muscat, Doha and Bahrain. Children enjoying one of GACs playhouse creations The packaging playhouses were delivered to children around the Middle East #stayhome #covidsupport #inthistogether #givingbacktothecommunity #globalmobility #internationalmovers #relocation 70 FF298 AugSept20 pp70-72 Lighter Side.indd 70 WWW. F I D I FOC U S . OR G 20/07/2020 16:36