Urgent supplies donated at Leicester's Ukrainian Community Centre

Volunteers were busy packing boxes ready to be shipped to the Polish border

Author: Ellis MaddisonPublished 10th Mar 2022

Leicester's Ukrainian Community Centre opened its doors to donations this week, which have been packaged up ready to be sent to Eastern Europe.

Members of the club are calling out for local haulage companies to help deliver the large supply of collected items to the Polish border.

Medical supplies such as painkillers, first aid kits, cold and flu, antiseptics and medicine for children remain some of the most-needed items.

But food and drink items were also delivered in abundance, alongside toiletries including nappies and wet wipes and basics like thick socks and thermals - camping equipment including tents were also dropped off.

Donations can be made at the centre again on Friday 11th March from 7pm-10pm

Natalia, who was helping to volunteer, lived in Ukraine for 16 years - she said one of her daughters and her partner were staying in Ukraine no matter what:

"They have no intention of leaving Kyiv unless it's absolutely necessary, but she has faith in the young soldiers that are going out. Of course we're worried about her because we're worried about the bombing."

"She's keeping a brave face on and trying to calm people down. My sister-in-law phones her in tears and she calms her down, spends an hour on the phone with her... she does what she can to support other people that are there, and to support people in the West who are helpless."

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