Student Volunteer Blue McDonnell

22/03/2021

Blue Mc Donnell, from Co. Clare, has spent much of her life travelling and working in different countries. She spent much of her time in Los Angles, California, as a volunteer with homeless children, children affected by domestic violence, and hospice patients. 

At home in Ireland, she is a member of the volunteer organisation, Civil Defence. It was through her work with Civil Defence that she became interested in being a paramedic.

Blue is now in the final of a 4-year degree, B. Sc. Science and Paramedic Studies, at the University of Limerick. She qualified as a paramedic in 2018 and has been working with an ambulance unit ever since.

Due to Covid-19 hands-on volunteering has been somewhat curbed. In December of last year, Blue saw a request from Clare Volunteer Group to compose poems and letters for elderly people who live alone, have no family, or are in hospital. She signed up and sent handwritten letters and poems to many people over Christmas.

More recently, Blue has become a volunteer with “Hullo”. This non-profit organisation tackles loneliness and isolation, encourages a sense of belonging, and nurtures positive emotional wellbeing through conversation.

For Blue, volunteering is a necessity in life. It brings her immense pleasure to meet new people, get involved in the community, and to help make someone’s day a little brighter.

For anyone thinking of volunteering, Blue says “ take that step today!” Remember, the best thing you can do for yourself is to do something for someone else.