A BOURNEMOUTH store flooded with donations for Ukraine says they will now be focusing their efforts on financial aid. 

Agnieszka Poluszanska has been collecting donations at her store, THRIVE Health and wellness in Bournemouth Town centre. 

Over the past week she has worked with a collection point at Holton Heath to organise donations, via the Facebook groups DORSET for UKRAINE and the Dorset Polish Centre #wospbmth.

Speaking about their work, Agnieszka said: "We are proud to inform you that our first shipment reached the following two locations:

"Ustrzyki ( PL) where  there are mothers with newborn babies who need lots of baby items and Hotel Senator in Olchowa ( PL) that gives shelter to many refugees from Ukraine.

"We would like to thank the wonderful Dorset community for the goodwill to support humanitarian aid for those affected by the war in Ukraine, it has been extraordinary and we are astonished by the level of support received."

Some collection sites in the Dorset area including Thrive, have been informed by Polish, Ukrainian and international charities that the top priority is now financial aid.

Moving forward, these groups will be focusing their efforts on raising money, by setting up crowndfunding pages, running online/Facebook/live auctions and selling raffle tickets.

For more information about this, see the @thrive.healthandwellness and @Dorset4Ukraine Facebook pages. 

Practical donations can still be made to the main collection point in Bournemouth at Castlepoint Shopping Park, Castle Lane West Unit Z, Bournemouth, BH8 9UZ (the former Argos building).

The following items are needed:

  • Baby bottles, new teats & Milton sterilising fluid
  • First aid supplies / medicines
  • Torches / batteries / power banks
  • Sleeping bags / tents
  • Binoculars
  • Hygiene essentials
  • Long shelf-life / instant food
  • Waterproof jackets
  • Thermoses / disposable cutlery

Donations can also be made at Irvings in Verwood on Saturdays from 10am to 4pm.

For more infomation about how to donate, see the Help from Bournemouth to Ukraine Facebook page.