Intensive care nurse from Ballykinlar is Housing Executive’s Rural Community Champion.
Intensive care nurse Maria McKeating has scopped the Housing Executive’s Rural Community Champion Award 2020.
Maria, who volunteers as club secretary at Ballykinlar GAC, won the £500 prize for the South Region in the Small Village category.
Due to the Covid-19 crisis, the 2020 competition rewarded efforts made by both groups and individuals who reached out and supported rural communities.
Maria claimed the title of Rural Community Champion due to her commitment, resilience and sheer determination to help others.
Fiona Martin, chairperson of Ballykinlar GAC, praised Maria for her continued efforts during lockdown.
She said: “Ballykinlar GAC had established a system to support those most vulnerable. The response was slow at first until one evening she received a call from an elderly neighbour in despair.
“The neighbour, not willing to share his situation with others he trusted Maria and told her he was desperately short of food. She immediately set out to see if there were other people in a similar situation. Some families were in poverty, some were shielding and many were very elderly and vulnerable.
“Maria on many occasions just off night duty, began applying for grants, sending emails and making non-stop phone calls to help us secure funding for food parcels for those in need.”
A small group of club volunteers lead by Maria delivered on average 60 food parcels per week throughout the Covid-19 crisis.
Fiona added: “By day she is the club secretary and by night is an ICU nurse in the Royal Victoria Hospital.
“The contribution Maria made to the local community has been outstanding! Ballykinlar Club and the wider community are absolutely delighted that Maria’s work has been recognised.”
Liam Gunn, the Housing Executive’s South Down Area Manager, congratulated Maria on her achievement.
He said; “A big well done to Maria on her award! She deserves this recognition due to her outstanding volunteering work with Ballykinlar GAC.
“Maria gives up enormous amounts of her time to further the work of the club, while also ensuring it is fully embedded within the local community.
“The Community Champion Award is our first ever individual award and we introduced it in recognition that very often it takes the vision and perseverance of one extraordinary community member to make things happen.
“Maria is an extraordinary community member as she serves on the front medical line, while also regularly sacrifices her free time to help others with no requirement for recompense or appreciation.”
