A Polish support centre in Wrexham has launched an urgent appeal to help Ukrainian refugees who have fled their country due to the war.
The Polish Integration Support Centre CIC is working to get supplies to Ukrainian refugees who have crossed the border into Poland, taking very little with them.
The centre, who is based at Ty AVOW in Wrexham, is appealing for thermal clothing, sleeping bags, crayons, toys, survival blankets, plasters, shampoos, first aid kits, new clothing, sanitary towels, napkins and metal cups.
Sleeping bags are currently their most needed item.
- Read more: Ukraine war: Collection points in Flintshire and Wrexham as support efforts are ramped up
Items can be taken to AVOW and other collection points have also been established in Chester, Liverpool, Manchester and Flint, among other places until Friday, March 4. On Saturday the lorries will come and collect the items.
Everything is currently being stored in a warehouse belonging to T4U before it makes its way to Poland. PISC are currently in need of funds to help get the items transported to the Polish-Ukrainian border.
Anna Buckley, the Project Director of PISC and working on this campaign thanked Dave and Simon at T4U North Wales Coast Warehouse for their help, and everyone so far who has donated or brought supplies.
Anna said: "What we need urgently is the funding for the transport and if we exceed it we would like to send the money to the Polish Government and they will buy supplies."
She said that yesterday morning the temperature dropped to -7 at the Polish border where Ukrainians fleeing war currently resde, a great number of them children.
Anna says that she can see that no one wants the war, and that everyone is united in trying to help as much as they can.
She added: "Lots of organisations, lot of Welsh people and Polish people; everyone is very helpful.
"I believe what's happened here now can show how much we are united. We are like a big international family."
Earlier commenting on her initiative to support refugees, Anna said: “The Polish people have a long history of welcoming those in need. I am pleased that the Polish Government have opened the border to support those from Ukraine that need it and I’m grateful to the UKG for their commitments to aid the humanitarian and military crisis in Ukraine.”
Wrexham’s MP Sarah Atherton is in support of PISC’s work.
She said: “I know that many in Wrexham are worried about the unfolding scenes we have witnessed, but it is uplifting to see our community coming together in support of Ukraine. I would urge all to donate what they can to Anna’s initiative.
“I am also proud that the UK Government has also provided wide-ranging support to Ukraine, and other European and NATO allies in the form of military equipment, technology and training, as well as economic and humanitarian assistance. This nation will always stand up for the freedoms and the hard-earned democracy of our European allies and there will continue to be severe implications for Russia as a result of this unprecedented conflict.”
To donate, follow the link for their sort code and account number: http://pisc.uk/ or directly at their JustGiving page: www.tinyurl.com/PISC-CIC
For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/PISCWrexham/
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