22 tonnes of donations on way to help Ukraine

A lorry containing over 22 tonnes’ worth of donations is on its way to the Poland-Ukraine border from the Rochdale Ukrainian Donations Hub.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine last month, people across Rochdale have been donating items urgently needed by those fleeing the conflict.

The lorry has been loaded with 33 pallets, containing 50 boxes of toothpaste, 50 boxes of toothbrushes, thousands of nappies, 100 boxes of first aid, hundreds of sleeping bags and hundreds of tins of food, pasta and rice.

The driver, Bartosz, set out on the 1,049-mile journey to the Help Ukraine Centre in Poland on Thursday (24 March) and is expected to reach the border by Sunday evening or Monday morning.

Gemma Finbarr-Smith, who has been co-ordinating the donations, said the use of the lorry was only made possible thanks to volunteer Melanie McArdle, who overhead Gemma saying they needed to raise about £2,000 to send a lorry instead of several vans.

By the end of the day, Melanie had arranged the full donation from her employer, Aramex, which sent a 60ft lorry to the hub.

With an ever-growing team, the volunteers sorted through thousands of bags of donations into labelled boxes before loading them onto pallets. J Freight loaned the use of a fork lift, helping to load the lorry.

Gemma said: “It’s been a full-time job. It felt so good to watch it leave!”

Donations of sleeping bags, toiletries, sanitary products, food, chocolate and sweets, nappies, blankets, baby milk and food and first aid are still being collected. Clothing will not be accepted.

Gemma and the volunteers will continue collecting before sending out more vans, but need to raise around £600 to account for fuel and driver accommodation. Cash donations and items required by the hub can be made in person at the Ron Chalkers’ entrance on Mellor Street between 10am and 5pm, Monday to Saturday.

 

Gemma has also been loaned some space in the Better Together building on Yorkshire Street, thanks to Michael Bamford, of Reuse Littleborough, so she can create a free resource centre for any Ukrainian refugees in the north west.

People will be referred to the centre by the likes of a local foodbank, the council or the Rochdale Ukrainian Club. Gemma also plans to create small welcome packs for each refugee.

“We’re desperate for some clothes rails. We’ll need lots when we open the resource centre, so if anyone has any that we can have, they’ll be gratefully received,” she added.

If you can help out in any way, please message the Rochdale Ukrainian Donations Hub Facebook page.