A SOUTHBOURNE resident has travelled to Poland with her father to deliver vital aid to Ukrainian refugees.
Emily Douglas and her father Bob Ward took a van packed full of humanitarian aid to Poland as part of heartfelt efforts for the people of Ukraine.
The supplies were passed over to a Polish man who had been making regular trips across the border and into the warzone to deliver supplies.
The trip was initiated by Emily’s father, who had been lent a van by a company he was working for in Exeter.
Emily said: “We had a month before we were due to leave so my plan was to fill the van.
“We managed to fill it to the brim, we couldn’t even fit one more toilet roll in it.”
The pair set off on May 4 from Emily’s Southbourne home, before embarking on a journey through France, Belgium and the Netherlands.
On arrival to Poland, they visited an orphanage which had welcomed Ukraine refugees. Emily said: “We gave them a lot of donations. They needed children’s clothes, nappies and those sorts of things.
Read more: Dorset residents drive to Poland to deliver Ukraine donations
“Then we drove across Poland for two and a half hours to a monastery. We stayed with nuns- they put us up for two nights.
“They got us in contact with a Friend of the church, a really nice Polish guy who does a trip to Ukraine twice a week for the church.
“So, we emptied our van into their van. All the nuns helped.
“Then he took it straight to the heart of Ukraine, where it was needed most.”
The 43-year-old told the Daily Echo how, as a mother herself, it was particularly important for her to help the Ukrainian women and children who had fled to Poland.
Read more: Ringwood man delivers donated medical goods to Ukraine
“There were children there without shoes. There were women my age with their children and dogs huddled up.
“I’ve never experienced anything like that in my entire life. It was heart-breaking.”
A Go Fund Me page was launched by Emily and Bob to support the trip to Ukraine and remains open for donations following their return to fundraise for the Polish orphanage.
To donate visit https://gofund.me/80874f84
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