Londoners queued for hours to load up lorries worth of donations to be taken to Ukrainians fleeing their homes as Russian missiles strike Kyiv.
Volunteers at the White Eagle Club, a Polish social centre in Balham, south London were flooded with bags of warm clothing, toothbrushes, baby supplies and children’s toys which will be driven to Poland to help more than 275,000 refugees there so far trying to escape the warzone.
Bags of donations were stacked to the ceiling after an appeal to help the victims of the conflict went out on Sunday.
Absolutely wonderful scenes: the queue running down Balham High Road from the White Eagle Club, a Polish venue which is taking clothing/bedding donations to Poland to be given to people fleeing Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/Iv4ByxeV70
— Kat Brown (@katbrown) February 27, 2022
One emotional note with handmade clothing hoping to provide “a warm blessing” to the Ukrainian person who receives them.
“I hope the sun will shine on your country”, it read.
One tweet from Basia Cummings said: “The Polish community of south London collecting supplies for Ukrainian refugees.
“Overwhelmed with donations. Sorters needed: White Eagle Club, Balham.”
Another post from James Roberts QC added: “Just been to the Polish White Eagle Club in Balham to donate bedding and warm clothing.
“There are hundreds queueing down the road to hand in their donations. Incredibly moving.”
Dr Rosena Allin-Khan, the Labour MP for Tooting posted: “Am always so proud of our community.
“The White Eagle Club on Balham High Road needs more volunteers every day to assist with sorting through the generous donations.”
Polish-media journalist Artur Kieruzal tweeted that club owner Magda Harvey told him it would take ‘a few trucks to deliver the gifts’ collected, a translation of the post said.
The most needed items right now are:
- Batteries / flashlights / candles
- Clothes (new or very good condition) shoes (new or very good condition)
- Nappies / dressings for children of different ages dry sanitary products
- Thermal clothes / thermal shirts / long johns / gloves/ painkillers
- Duvets / blankets / sleeping bags / pillows / sheets
They are not collecting food in any form.
It came as protests and demonstrations in support of Ukraine have been held around the UK as Russia continues its invasion.
Thousands joined various rallies over the weekend, including outside the Russian embassy and Downing Street in London, and in Manchester and Edinburgh.
