More than 1,000 boxes donated in Salisbury for the people of Ukraine
A collection point was set up for two days in the city
A collection point in Salisbury for people wanting to make donations to those affected by the fighting in Ukraine, has proved to be a success.
Five Rivers Leisure Centre opened up on Friday and Saturday with a team of volunteers collecting, packing and sending off any items handed in.
Across the two days they finished with a total of 1,017 boxes full of different things like medical supplies, food and clothing.
Around 50 volunteers also gave up their time to help.
It was organised by Magdalena Najman, who set up the Wiltshire for Ukraine Facebook page.
In a post she said:
"With the help of 50 volunteers, local businesses and storage locations. For 10 days we prepared. For 2 days we collected. Thanks to the community of Salisbury and surrounding villages. Your generosity helped to fill 1017 boxes of donations for the people of Ukraine.
A special thanks is extended to Sarah Sartin and Valerie Ridout for all the time, effort and energy they have put in to help all of this charitable work succeed.
To see our community come together and help those in their time of need, has been an emotional, determined and uplifting experience."
Some of the volunteers also said how proud they were to have been involved.
Dee Kennedy said:
"It was such a privilege and incredibly inspirational to be involved in this wonderful team effort. Bravo to Magdalena, Sarah, Valerie et al to get this off the ground so quickly and to achieve such a great deal in such a short time. Absolutely stunning … and good for the soul too."
Meanwhile, Alison Small commented:
"It was such a privilege to be part of this amazing team. Very humbling to see the amazingly high quality of donation that people like you gave towards helping Ukraine. The relief of being able to help people and do something more useful than worrying."
Salisbury Removals helped with moving the boxes, which are currently at storage locations ready to be dispatched this week.
School items will go to Poland where Ukrainian children will be attending schools.