Ukraine Support group appeals for lorries and funding help to send aid to refugees

Volunteers sending aid to war-ravaged Ukraine and its displaced population urgently needs help from anyone able to provide lorries to make the trip, or funding to make their deliveries possible.

The group has a collections space at Tuxford courtesy of Premier Movers and has sent several lorry-loads of vital supplies to both Poland and Ukraine.

Lorries had been provided for free as they delivered goods to shops selling regional food stuffs and delicacies in the UK and travelled back empty, but rising costs mean that is no longer possible.

“We recognised the need all over Poland and Ukraine,” said Emilia Golanowska, one of those involved with the group.

“We work with communities all over Poland and have close links with Poles in the UK.

“They tell us what they need and we put out an appeal.

“We’ve been asked to send a lorry-load of canned food to meet an immediate need.”

The group, Ukraine Support from Mansfield and Ashfield, was set up after the owner of a Polish shop travelled to Ukraine to rescue his wife’s sister and his mother-in-law, returning home realising he had little to give them and that hundreds of thousands of people were in the same desperate position.

“We work with mayors and councils to get them exactly what they need,” said Emilia.

“Humanitarian aid such as toiletries, toys, clothing, food mattresses, 100 camp beds and for Ukrainian soldiers, medical supplies, power generators and chainsaws.

“There is no point in collecting if we can’t get it there.

“There are lots of little places in Poland that need help with refugees. I am from a little town in south Poland that now has 400 refugees, one tenth of the village. Small communities that have no experience in dealing with sudden increases in their populations. It is hard to imagine what they are going through, having to support their families, make a living, and support all of the refugees. Poland is not a wealthy nation.

“We now have to pay for lorries because there is a cost in fuel and they use more because they are laden. We have negotiated a reduced price, £1,300 per lorry down from £2,500 to £3,000. What we need is a transport company who are willing to help get our aid out there for free, or for less, or some form of sponsorship or funding. We are all volunteers who give our time for free and are fully recognised as legitimate.

“Some of us have family in Poland or Ukraine. Some of us have young families and we were so upset seeing young families displaced by the war, children separated from their parents, innocent people.

“It was heartache to think of the little kids, so we set our group up.”

The group welcomes donations to Premier Movers at Walker’s Industrial Estate, Tuxford, NG22 0PQ, from Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, or Saturdays, 9am to noon.

Emilia can be contacted with offers of help on 07865 673287 or zuziaczek5@hotmail.com