Help Ukraine

Monica, that must have been amazing to hear. A nice gesture as well, as any Ukrainian person would recognise the peal.

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Our church bellringers rang the church bells in the Ukrainian tradition this Sunday to show our support for the Ukrainians in this terrible time. It can only be a gesture, but it is another symbol of all the support they have.

Our local taxi firm in the next village set off for Poland this morning with nine minibuses and vans crammed full of supplies. I am following their progress on Facebook. (They are now in Germany.) I donated cash to help with their expenses.

We all feel that we just have to help however we can. I won't be going on holiday (don't fancy risking it) so donated to DEC, with gift aid, as there's no transport costs from the UK involved. My daughter sent first aid supplies and emergency foil blankets, as they were requested by her local Polish charity.

Of course it should and I have not suggested otherwise. I was merely offering a response to someone further up thread who suggested that the best way to donate was to give money and much of the giviing in kind was inappropriate

I believe there is space for giving in cash and in kind. That groups taking presorted donations are continuing to ask for goods and have the lorries to take them suggests that gifts in kind are both useful and appropriate.

M0nica

Donating sutiable goods that are on a lorry today or tomorrow and will be with the refugees and being handed out by the end of the week, offers practical help now, rather faster than Humanitarian aid from charities, no matter how efficient.

What refugees need more than anything, is knowing others care and are active and being given a sleeping bag, blanket, warm jacket or thermal gloves is as good as a hug in the knoweldge that individuals everywhere are donating on a personal basis.

All donations are being sorted before being sent and designer clothes and worn clothing will be disposed off in the UK.

Yesterday I was able to take sleeping bags, blankets and thermal wear that has been sititing in our cupboards, unused and unworn since our last arctic adventure 6 or 7 years ago. Others were donating packs of sanitary towels and the like, baby food and baby clothes.

All help should be welcomed, surely.

Our neighbourhood 'Next-door' sent a notice that a local storage company are taking in donations. Then shipping to the borders for the Ukraine. I had practical and much needed clothes and baby essentials etc packed into thick clear bags. Clear bags I usually use to store clothes etc so its easy to see what is in them.

At our rugby club there was collections for Ukraine within half an hour over £3000 was raised such generousity. It brought tears to my eyes the kindness and concern everyone showed for the people of Ukraine.

Donating sutiable goods that are on a lorry today or tomorrow and will be with the refugees and being handed out by the end of the week, offers practical help now, rather faster than Humanitarian aid from charities, no matter how efficient.

What refugees need more than anything, is knowing others care and are active and being given a sleeping bag, blanket, warm jacket or thermal gloves is as good as a hug in the knoweldge that individuals everywhere are donating on a personal basis.

All donations are being sorted before being sent and designer clothes and worn clothing will be disposed off in the UK.

Yesterday I was able to take sleeping bags, blankets and thermal wear that has been sititing in our cupboards, unused and unworn since our last arctic adventure 6 or 7 years ago. Others were donating packs of sanitary towels and the like, baby food and baby clothes.

www.defendukraine.org/

This has just been mentioned by a young women who was being interviewed on Sky News. It gives options to "Donate", "Support the Ukrainian Army", "Demand more sanctions", or "#BoycottRussia".

If you click any button it goes through to tell you more. For instance if you click on the "Donate" button it gives you "Verified fundraisers", charities and donation links in support of different specific areas such as "Military Support", "Medical Supplies", "Humanitarian Aid", etc. It also tells you what is relevant in the areas where that will help.

It's extremely comprehensive.

If anyone has adult DC who might buy them something for Mother's Day, you could ask them to make a donation instead.

One of mine suggested this, they know I would completely approve. Someone in a refugee centre needs things far more than I need a bunch of flowers.

A hopeful news clip - these young people inspire me….

www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/60615310

DEC appeal is good. British government is matching every donation pound for pound up to £20 million.

Yes, I agree that donating to the DEC or Red Cross appeals stands the best chance of what is needed getting to where it is most required. DH and I would have had a posh dinner for my big birthday so I have donated its cost to DEC. Every little helps, and heaven knows the need is enormous and will go on and on. There will be many more appeals, I fear.

Good plan -mine will got to Red Cross appeal too.

We have a Ukrainian living in the village and she is collecting goods to take to Poland for the refugees - she knows what is needed and has lorries lined up. I did an Asda order and had it delivered to her for the next lorry..... another idea perhaps that others might like to think about ..... they are all new goods that are needed: nappies, sanitary products, baby milk formula, dried food etc. I feel secure that they will finish up in the right place.

We donated to the Red Cross yesterday, and today won the same amount on the Premium Bonds. Not a huge amount but small amounts do add up. It’s heartbreaking watching the news.

same. I won some on premium bonds. Glad to see DEC in operation now with £ for £ being matched by the government. That was inspirational for me OP.

We won £50 on the premium bonds and will donate that. Brilliant idea watermeadow.

We have delivered a lot of towels, bedding and warm clothes too. A Polish supermarket in our town has asked for donations. Lots of Poles were stationed at an airfield near here and settled in the area.

Financial donations are much more effective than donating goods. On our local news one charity is saying they cannot afford the cost of transporting the goods or the drivers’ time. On our local social media page people are offering all sorts of unsuitable goods. One person even said she would donate some designer clothes!

Watermeadow- what a lovely thing ? to do.

I've already contributed to the Red Cross and the DEC appeal. However, every time I watch the news I want to do more. I'm supposed to be going on holiday next month and planned a shopping trip to buy some new clothes. After tonight's news I'm thinking that I've got lots of perfectly good clothes so I might as well send what I could have spent to the DEC appeal. The govt is going to match donations to it pound for pound so it should go a longer way to help.