I’m very proud of my better half who has over the past few weekends been doing volunteering work at the Tayside and Strathearn Help for Ukraine Group, leaving me to get on with my weekend tasks on The Celtic Star!
We’ve never asked our readers for anything really and we certainly have never tried to charge you for our content. However this evening we’d like to ask for your help as here’s why in the words of my lovely wife Karen….
THE TAYSIDE AND STRATHEARN HELP FOR UKRAINE GROUP..
The Tayside and Strathearn Help for Ukraine group is run by volunteers who are co-ordinating aid for Ukraine. Aid, donated by local residents and businesses, is destined to reach Ukrainians traumatised by the invasion of their homeland. The group’s main focus is on getting practical aid to those who have arrived in Poland.
Morris Leslie Car Auction’s warehouse at Errol Airfield in Perthshire is the main hub for donations and for the last 2 weeks I have, with other members of the local community, been sorting and packing donations for the people of Ukraine. The response to the call for donations has been incredible and the kindness displayed by so many is heart-warming to say the least.
From newly knitted baby items, warm winter blankets, pallets of pet food and toiletries, the warehouse is full of everything you can think of and more. Some donation bags even contain messages of support in Ukrainian and pictures of sunflowers drawn by children, destined for those in need. These messages, some written by children are truly heart-warming and demonstrate solidarity with the people of Ukraine.
The organising team is fantastic and all the volunteers are warmly welcomed and receive a briefing upon arrival each day. The team spirit in the warehouse is incredible. There are people of all ages working together for the greater good. Humanity at its best. Last Sunday saw the mountain of clothing donation bags finally cleared with the essential warm clothing having arrived in Poland. I have never seen so many clothes in one place at the one time; the pile of donation bags almost reached the ceiling of the huge warehouse!
Locals have even handed in food for the volunteers when dropping off their donations, showing remarkable acts of kindness.
This week lorries have delivered this aid to Poland and another has gone directly to Ukraine. This coming week another lorry will be heading to Medyka in Poland filled with further essential aid.
At the moment, there is a pause on accepting donations as the team continues to sort, pack and distribute many of the items currently in the warehouse. However, monetary donations can be made through the group’s JustGiving page and these funds raised will be used to fund the transport costs such as the fuel, ferry and toll charges for the lorries heading to Poland and Ukraine. Donations can be made using the link below and you can be assured that every penny will be well spent getting essential aid to and helping the people of Ukraine.
The Just Giving link is below for Kindness for Ukraine. The target for this Just Giving campaign is £12,000 and so far a total of £1940 has been raised. That’s why with the help of The Celtic Star, I’m asked The Celtic support to get involved and it all all possible give what you can to get more lorries moving and more essential aid delivered to these families. COYBIG and of course COYGIG.
Karen
Karen puts up with a lot so that you get the very best Celtic news, view and features every single day of the year on The Celtic Star, shoe doesn’t moan (much) but promises never to nag me again if we can help here. Big incentive for me on this one folks! In all seriousness please assist if you can. Here’s the Kindness for Ukraine Just Giving link…
