Getting the right aid to those who need it most - and fast

There is a constantly evolving need for essential aid and after every trip to Ukraine, the team returns with new requests for specific items. Recently, we have raised money for vitamins for kids and the elderly, incontinence pads for the wounded, disabled and infirm, insulated winter insoles for firemen & paramedics, collapsible camp beds for frontline hospitals, cleaning products for hospitals, energy bars, dried foods, essential toiletries, sweets & treats for kids in refugee camps, candles & matches for those living without power, and much more...

A little bit of background

This fundraiser started out with me collecting essential aid items to be transported from Cumbria to Kraków, Poland - direct to Ukrainian refugees in Poland. We focussed on everyday items, baby essentials, dried food, and toiletries. Our local guide in Krakow sent up-to-the-minute updates about what was currently needed, so we could send the relevant urgent aid. The last truck that went from the UK to Krakow, included toiletries, dried food, underwear for all ages, summer shoes, and filled backpacks for children.

Along the way, we started supporting the efforts of a Krakow city councillor, Lukasz, who is raising money to run aid convoys into Ukraine. Along with his team, they have taken tonnes of food and medical aid into Ukraine, water tanks to Bucha, a hospital bed to Lviv, a generator to a cancer hospital in Kyiv, essential aid out to Kharkiv and Izium, and much more. Our Krakow tour guide, Paulina, has also been supporting Ukrainian refugees in the local villages and we have donated some funds to help with much-needed psychological support for the children. With the support of Workington Derwent Inner Wheel we also purchased essential care items for a group of elderly care home patients displaced and temporarily housed in a school building in Ukraine.

We will continue to collect physically donated items (here in Cumbria, where I am based) IF we find a local partner with transport and are willing to drive to Krakow, Poland - get in touch if you are that person! We will also continue to raise funds for our local partners in Krakow who are supporting Ukraine in the most dedicated and dangerous ways, it is an honour to be able to assist them.

100% of donations here will go straight to our team in Krakow, who will then spend that money on essential aid (buying it in Ukraine where possible to support the local economy) and then distribute those items directly to those who need them (aid does not go into a warehouse or via a middleman, the aid goes into the hands of the people who need it). We pay any bank transfer costs, and we get updates on how the money is spent so we can show you what you did to help Ukraine.

Thank you for helping me to support my colleagues who are doing so much to help others!

PS I also have some rare and collectible items from Ukraine for sale - if you are interested to own an unusual souvenir to show your support for Ukraine please contact me!