When the world began quarantining because of the novel coronavirus pandemic, many homeless people had nowhere to go.
Fownes Hotel, a 60-room upscale hotel in Worcester, England, normally charges about $197 a night. When they closed their doors to their usual customers, staff members decided to help out the “rough sleepers” in their city.
The hotel welcomed 45 people with nowhere else to go and has been giving them free room and board ever since. They will continue to do so until they open to the public again. In the meantime, they had to furlough 15 staff members, which left them with a skeletal crew of 11.
That’s when the guests stepped up and started looking for ways to give back. They have weeded the gardens around the hotel, cleaned rooms, and assisted the kitchen staff.
Eddie Boult, a former bricklayer staying at the Fownes, got right to work building a new wall and patio for the hotel. He said, “I did it because I was bored but also as a thank-you to the staff. They’ve really looked after me.”
Other guests said they’re eating better than ever before, and it’s all thanks to the restaurant staffers who are preparing their meals.
Terence Marriott said, “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.”
Fownes is the only hotel in Worcester doing this. Everybody else closed their doors.