Community interest spawns fund to cover hotel costs for essential service workers

In March, Accent Inns started a $59 promotion for any essential worker to find refuge during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many workers have been worried that going home may transmit the virus to their loved ones. 

Once the B.C. owned hotel chain made the offer to workers, the community came out in heaps to help those putting their lives on the line for us. 

"As of, April 8th, Accent Inns has provided 940 community donated room nights for essential service workers throughout the province of BC in all of their 7 Hotels," stated in an email sent to Castanet. 

Accent Inns partnered with the United Way and created the Hotels for Frontline Workers Fund, where they've raised $62,000. 

"Based on their reservations statistics that is 118 Essential Service workers helped."

Including Rubie Sidhu, a nurse from Kamloops who was awarded a month's stay donated by First West Credit Union. 

"Accent Inns & First West Credit Union are her guardian angels."

“When I reached out to Accent Inns they answered immediately and provided a clean and comfortable place to stay," says Trevor Pescod a BC Ambulance Paramedic for more than 20 years. 

Pescord's wife and children live in Kelowna but he works full time in the Vancouver area.

"While I'm there I live with my Aunt and Uncle.  My Aunt and Uncle are elderly and health compromised and in March it began to be too dangerous for me to stay with them," says Pescod. 

"Every day at work I am in close proximity to very sick people and vulnerable individuals.  Looking for another place to stay is extremely complicated when you don't want to put anyone else in any danger.  Paying for hotels was quickly becoming unaffordable”

The hotel chain is still offering the $59 per room per night accommodation but they're hoping that the community will continue to support the United Way Hotels for Frontline Workers Fund.