The founder of a local social enterprise centre in Co Tyrone is preparing to make the lengthy journey to the Ukrainian border to deliver vital aid to refugees who have fled the country.
Glena McDowell-Khan from the For You organisation in Dungannon is currently collecting community donations in the area and plans to drive a van to either Poland or Hungary to help those displaced in the area.
Hundreds of items have already at their drop off point in the town, and Glena said the local community has always come together to hep people in need.
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“Dungannon has always come together, I have seen it time and time again,” Glena told MyTyrone.
“They are the most amazing community that you could ever work with.
“They want to do something and they want to help, and us as an organisation want to do our bit as well.
“What we have gathered is a list of stuff that is much needed, things like nappies, water, dried food, toiletries and medicines.
“We are reacting to what our community has asked - they want to help, everybody is feeling slightly helpless.
“I have seen amazing work being done around Dungannon so we wanted to do our bit to help the people of Ukraine and Ukrainian refugees.
The charity worker added that she wanted to go directly to the areas where many refugees have gone in order to see first hand what is happening.
She added: “We are going to pack our van and we are going directly with it to Poland or Hungary.
“We are working with guys that are in both countries and we are going to work to wherever is best for our aid.
“We want to go for a few reasons, to make sure to our donors that the stuff has arrived and I’d also like to get a feel myself of what is going on and be able to feed back.
“I’ve set myself 10 to 21 days to go, but as soon as my van is ready to go we are going.
“I’m very passionate about our community work and the way we work with our community.”
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