People around the world are facing challenging times because of the coronavirus pandemic. Countless have lost their jobs. Many are unable to pay their rent and bills, and some are feeling the emotional weight of not seeing their family and friends.

Eddie Boult, a bricklayer by trade, is one of them. His life seemingly took a downturn due to the lockdown.

Work opportunities have been dismal for this bricklayer.

Lucky for him, he’s been living in the Fownes Hotel in Worcester, England for the past few weeks. Unlike many hotels that closed their doors, this hotel has been very generous during the pandemic. They refuse to close down. In an act of kind-heartedness, they have decided to open their doors to those who have no place to stay during the lockdown.

Though jobless, Eddie chose to stay busy and put his skill to good use. As a sign of his deep gratitude for the hotel’s kindness, he has been building structures for them.

Eddie shares,

“I did it because I was bored but also as a thank you to the staff. They’ve really looked after me.”

The hotel has been a silver lining during these tough times.

The Fownes Hotel usually charges its guests around £155 a night, but they’ve eased their rules in response to the crisis.

Eddie has been paying them back in the best way he knows — by using his skill as a bricklayer. He made a new wall and patio for the hotel within an impressive four days.

The hotel’s staff has been a lifesaver for many during this difficult time. In collaboration with a local homeless charity, they’ve opened their rooms to the homeless for free, lightening the burden for many in the Worcester area.

The hotel has been a safe haven for a total of 45 temporary guests.

Peter Swinbourne, another guest at the Fownes Hotel, admits that the hotel and staff practically rescued him from the streets. This 48- year -old man has been homeless for the past 25 years. Staying in the Fownes Hotel has been an unbelievable experience for him.

Peter says,

“I have never slept in a double bed before. I’m happy here—this is a five-star hotel putting up homeless people.”

Other guests have the same sentiments about the hotel. 55-year- old Terence Marriott, has been staying at the Fownes Hotel for the past six weeks. Terrence shares,

“I have been well looked after. It has been excellent. The food is also excellent. I feel a lot healthier than when I came in.”

Julie Merrick, the hotel’s assistant manager, describes the hotel experience in the middle of the pandemic,

“Our new guests have been lovely and grateful for the support they had been given and treat their rooms with respect. We stayed open simply because we wanted to help.”

It is always a great sight to see: people caring for other people.

Aside from unselfishly letting the homeless stay in their establishment, the hotel has been incredibly cautious during the process as well. They stress proper hygiene practices and appropriate social distancing measures to their guests and staff. As a precaution, the hotel has removed alcoholic beverages from the hotel’s bars and strategically placed chairs within the hotel premises to prevent the spread of the virus.

Thankfully, no coronavirus cases have been reported by the hotel during the pandemic.

The Fownes Hotel diligently placed several safety reminders on display to maintain proper social distancing procedures and sanitation,

“Coronavirus – Wash your hands more often for 20 seconds.”

The hotel was not spared from economic hardship during the coronavirus crisis. It had to let go of 15 hotel staff to make ends meet. Currently, the hotel is being maintained by a handful of people. Eleven staff members total are presently working at the hotel. They are getting by, taking it one day at a time. The new guests have been a huge help.

Julie adds:

“We’re the only hotel in Worcester doing this. Everybody else closed their doors. My staff are very brave. They have gone above their job role, absolutely. It has brought us all closer together as a team.”

In fact, the hotel has a history of altruistic efforts. When Worcester was plagued by an awful flood back in February, the hotel opened its doors to 30 people who were displaced. An amazing gesture in a time of calamity.

The Fownes Hotel Worcester deserves all the applause and praise for their efforts in response to the coronavirus crisis. The pandemic hasn’t been easy for anyone, throwing everyone off their feet and forcing us to deal with challenges and ambiguity. Despite the chaos, the hotel decided to focus on helping others instead of folding under the pressure.

A crisis can either bring out the worse in people or give them a chance to shine. Eddie and the Fownes Hotel staff show us that amid any disaster, there will always be compassionate and kind-hearted people that will keep the world going – and any battle can be turned into a blessing.

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Source: Good News Network, Pressreader, Malvern Gazette