Hamper firm sends hygiene packs to tsunami zone

A LIMERICK couple have used the idea behind their Christmas gift business to send a supply of hygiene ‘hampers’ to Sri Lanka.

In the next two weeks Siobhan McNamara and her husband, Frank, plan to send out 7,500 hygiene hampers in three 40ft containers.

The hygiene family packs will contain personal items such as nappies, bandages, cotton wool, toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, sanitary towels, toilet paper, shampoo, sponges, vaseline, sudocream and other assorted toiletries.

Each pack is about the size of a large shoe box.

Frank McNamara will ship the containers through his own freight forwarding company, Eastway Logistics, which operates out of the Eastway Business Park in Ballysimon, Limerick.“We wanted to do something practical and we got the idea from Siohban’s Christmas hamper business, which she runs with a friend, Siobhan Keane. They had just finished this before Christmas and we felt the hamper concept could be used to get a variety of items to stricken people. I contacted suppliers and customers and the response has been unbelievable,” Mr McNamara said.

One company sent them 12,000 toothbrushes and 12,000 tubes of toothpaste. Frank, who is secretary of Shannon Rugby Club said: “We decided to sponsor one 40ft container of practical relief aid, but we will now have three due to the response. The packages will be distributed from a sister office of ours, Air Masters, we deal with in Sri Lanka. The secretary there, Anita Wickramasinghe, will look after things at that end.”

Siobhan McNamara and her Christmas hamper team now work late into each night packing the hygiene packs. “We hope to get the first container out next week. We will pack, load and ship the containers free of charge from Limerick to Sri Lanka. Air Masters in Sri Lanka will arrange customs clearance and deliver to the people who need them most.”

Anybody wishing to contribute goods for the Hygiene Hampers can deliver them to Eastway Logistics in Eastway Business Park or contact 061-411212 (fax [phone]). Mr McNamara said they can arrange collection if necessary.