SINCE the outbreak of war in Ukraine, one group in Bournemouth has gone above and beyond to support those affected by the Russian invasion.
Help from Bournemouth to Ukraine was formed three weeks ago by Karol Swiacki and Daniel Sulimierski from Food Plus, Boscombe, as a way to get life-saving donations to people fleeing, fighting or helping in the war against Russia.
After what started as a Facebook group to connect the Polish community in Bournemouth to help Ukraine, the group has gone from strength to strength and has organised, collected and delivered more than 100 tonnes of donations.
Daniel said:
“I don’t feel helpless anymore, I feel like we’re really making a difference.
“It’s unbelievable to make a difference, it’s a very nice feeling inside.
“The things that people are donating now as well - it’s not just food and clothes, it’s medical equipment too which is getting to the hospitals and is actually saving lives.”
Karol said: “This is amazing, all of what we've done so far - I don’t need to sleep almost - the pride, love and hope is pushing me on and it’s just so powerful.
“We’re saving lives, I get pictures everyday from the frontline in Kyiv, hospitals in Lviv and Odessa.
“Not only are we helping Poland, Hungary and Ukraine’s refugees but we’re helping the frontlines as well.
“We have an army of hope in the UK.
No longer help from Bournemouth anymore, the organisation is collecting and organising donations from across the country.
Karol said: “We have already sent 100 tonnes of goods to Poland and every day I get more news about what else we can do.
“I’m in talks with Renault to get vehicles, we’ve spoken with people about getting planes to transport our goods.
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“We still have more than 500 pallets to send and there’s more coming every day.
“We’re just so proud of the whole project, it’s been overwhelmed with kindness and there’s such amazing hope from the people - everybody wants to help.”
The group has more than 100 volunteers and has set up a crowdfunding page to help with the project.
Help from Bournemouth to Ukraine is using warehouses across Dorset at Castlepoint, Hurn Airport and Poole.
Donations are still being collected, the list of wanted items can be checked daily on the Help from Bournemouth to Ukraine Facebook page.
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