Cornish couple to deliver van of donations to charity supporting Ukrainian refugees
Prague-based Dignity is expecting 5,000 women and children in the first wave
A Cornish couple are collecting donations, to help Ukrainian refugees finding shelter away from the conflict.
Samantha Collins and Charlie Damms from Liskeard started to collect donations last week and have already been overwhelmed with generous amounts of supplies.
The idea came after their family's organisation, Dignity, in Czechia, Prague, has been calling for donations and help to offer refugees who will be arriving to the area out of Ukraine.
The charity offers support displaced people and are expecting to see thousands of Ukrainian refugees look for shelter there.
Sam said: "They're expecting around 5,000 in the first wave. They have three coach full of children in the next few days. They're already overwhelmed.
"There's problems getting things through customs at the moment so we offered to fill our work van with as many of these items as we can and drive them across to them. We have had an absolutely amazing response from the first day".
Sam and Charlie, who are based in Liskeard, will be putting donations together to drive them up to Prague in their work van next week.
Sam told us: "I put a post on Facebook on Saturday afternoon, our aim was to fill a transit van and I think we've probably already exceeded that limit. We're probably looking at a lorry load now.
"My other half, Charlie is driving a van over to Prague with as much stuff as we can collect. We're going to be driving up to Sheffield via Leicester and looking at collecting donations on the way up as well".
The couple are asking for donations of: women and children's clothes, toiletries, baby shampoos and children's soaps, wet wipes, nappies, feminine hygiene products and toothbrushes and toothpaste. They've said most refugees will be based in hotels and hostels, so donations of bedding is less necessary.
Sam told us about the response they've had: "It's just grown and grown. We've got people coming from Mount Hawke, St Ives. We've got people coming from Plymouth.
"It's just been an absolutely overwhelming and people's generosity has just, knocked me for six. It's been absolutely fantastic".
The heartfelt support from people across the Duchy comes as hundreds gathered in Cornwall for vigils in solidarity with conflicts in Ukraine this weekend.
Similar vigils and demonstrations of support have taken place across the country, with buildings being lit blue and yellow to 'Stand with Ukraine'.
Sam continued: "It was just an idea, we've got the means to do it and the time. We just wanted to help where we can.
"We know Tom and Petra do fantastic work (with Dignity). They've got people staying in their house as well. We just want to help".
The aim of Dignity is to provide practical, emotional, financial as well as spiritual help to all displaced people, whose lives and futures have been put on hold.
Their main objective is demonstrating unconditional love for families and individuals in need regardless their religion, background, education, age or any other factors.
Sam is asking for people to reach out to her on Facebook to help with their donations before they make the journey.
More details about the appeal and a fundraiser for a bigger van can be found on Samantha's Facebook page.