BOURNEMOUTH’s main fundraiser for Ukraine has been rebranded in a move towards worldwide recognition.
The Help from Bournemouth to Ukraine group, launched to support the war-torn country, has been renamed Ukraine Relief.
The name change follows the group's partnership with multiple national and international companies, which is said to have expanded its operations outside of Bournemouth.
Karol Swiacki, who launched the project from Bournemouth back in February, said: “We have deliveries of donations coming from Manchester, London, Scotland, and Leeds, and then we also have partners in places like Denmark, Germany, and the United States. Australians are joining us as well.
“We started it in Bournemouth, but we have people coming from all over. It’s huge now.
“We can’t be just help from Bournemouth anymore.”
Now, operating as Ukraine Relief, the group continues to receive support from a number of businesses.
Last week, 126 mattresses complete with duvets, sheets, pillows and covers were donated by ATCO Frontec Europe, and 500,000 multivitamins were donated by The Oxford Health Company.
Volunteers at Ukraine Relief remain on site at the Castlepoint warehouse to sort through such donations ahead of their shipment.
A recent focus for the group has been its ‘bags of love’, packages put together with Ukrainian children in mind.
Karol said: “We are putting things like bears and sweets in a bag. We’ve got over 3000 bags of love now.
“The children there are just jumping about when they get them.”
The bags of love join £25,000 worth of donations going out every week from the organisation.
Karol told the Daily Echo how grateful he is for everyone that has been involved in the efforts. He said: “I would like to thank all the volunteers, the Castlepoint team, the people and businesses donating, the drivers in Europe and transport, and everyone in Ukraine who is involved in delivering aid where it is needed.
“Then there’s my wife Daria, and daughters Julia and Diana. They are precious and I have no time for them, but I love them.
“They know we are saving lives together.”
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