THE man behind Dorset’s fundraising efforts for Ukraine has called for donations to continue.

Karol Swiacki, the founder of Ukraine Relief, has issued a reminder that the group is still welcoming donations.

Members the public are being invited to gift a number of goods to the project, with a push for children’s items including crayons, notepads, hairbands and sweets.

Karol said: “A lot of people don’t realise that there are 13 million refugees now. They’ve lost their houses and they have nothing.

“So, we are still open for donations. We will take everything.”

Bournemouth Echo: Donations at Castlepoint warehouseDonations at Castlepoint warehouse

Ukraine Relief, previously Help from Bournemouth to Ukraine, was launched in February to support Ukraine amid the war and has been behind an overwhelming number of donations shipped to refugees.

The project has continued to attract the support of multiple large corporations, who have made both monetary and product donations.

Read more: Help from Bournemouth to Ukraine is renamed Ukraine Relief

Earlier this month, 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.

Karol said: “People hear about us, and they trust us to help.”

Bournemouth Echo: Donations at Castlepoint warehouse.Donations at Castlepoint warehouse.

Karol has also made an agreement with the director at Yellow Buses to have the Ukraine Relief poster displayed on every one of their buses in the South Coast.

But even with such large-scale support, and two trips to Ukraine himself, Karol has said his work for the country is “only just beginning” and has pledged his commitment to the project moving forward.

He said: “This is my whole life now. This is what I do all day.

“Once you go to Ukraine, and you see how the Russians are destroying the country, you don’t want to quit.

“It pushes you to do more, and you want to help all you can.

“We saw a 25-year-old boy and a 23-year-old boy standing there with guns. I could see the fear in their eyes. They don’t even know what they’re fighting for.”

For more information on the project, visit the Ukraine Relief Facebook page.