When the call came, Colin Neilson was happy to answer.
The former Aberdeen Grammar player-turned-secretary was the first to step up when the rugby club set up its own community assistance programme during the coronavirus pandemic.
Grammar set up a WhatsApp group for players and volunteers to put forward their services, with chairman and president Gordon Thomson fielding enquiries from members of the community who needed help and directing the request to his squad.
Neilson was the first to hit the streets last week and was only too happy to do so.
He said: “It was to help out a lady who lived near to Rubislaw. She required some keys to be cut so I went along and got that done for her.
“There’s been about 20 instances of people being helped. In order to facilitate that, we’ve been able to get registered with the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations and the Grampian Health Board, so people can get in touch with us.
“There’s now 48 volunteers in the group – predominantly people that play for the club. When we get requests, the first person to volunteer gets it.
“It’s very unique and unusual times where people who are used to being able to fend for themselves now, by government decree, aren’t able to do that. We’re filling a much-needed gap to provide essential services for people in the community.”
The impact of Covid-19 has been far-reaching and and restrictions around movement are only likely to increased as the virus grows.
That may increase the importance of services like the one Grammar are offering, which has been mirrored by fellow north clubs Highland and Gordonians.
Neilson added: “With us being registered with various organisations and government restrictions possibly becoming more severe, there’s possibly a greater need for it.
“As long as guys are following precautions – there was a leaflet circulated within the group – to not make physical contact, keep a safe distance but stay for a chat if required and wear gloves for items that need dropping off, we should be OK.
“Hopefully we can make a positive contribution. We have a number of guys involved, so there’s always going to be volunteers. If it’s something that’s in place for a number of months, we can meet that challenge.”
