With social media flooded with heartbreaking footage of families ripped apart by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, supplies and donations have been piling high around the country.
And in Wallsend, a single mum-of-two has been "spurred into action" after seeing a moving clip of a father being forced to leave his little girl at the Ukranian border.
Michelle Ross, 35, explained: "Although I'm on Universal Credit and I don't have much, I'm fortunate enough to have my family. Those people from Ukraine are losing their homes and their families all at once, so they need our prayers and our support."
"I've been through some very hard times, and people have helped me through. It's only right that now I help those who desperately need it."
Go here for the very latest breaking news updates from across the North East
The former carer, who is currently looking for work, continued: "When I saw a video of a Ukranian man saying goodbye to his little girl, who was fleeing with her mother, it really touched a nerve.
"Those families are going through such an awful time, having to leave all they've known and their possessions, so I thought as a community we should try our best to help.
"It quickly became apparent that lots of other people in the area want to help too".
Using social media, Michelle has organised a collection of toys, clothing, bedding and other items for women and children who are fleeing the violent warfare playing out across Ukriane.
She said her mum has been a "star" during the process, journeying around after work to help gather items from donors.
And to get the items to Ukranian families in need, she has liaised with another determined mum from North Tyneside.
Rosa DiMeo, who runs DiMeo's Galeteria in Whitley Bay, has volunteered her family's shop as a collection point and has been organising items ready for them to be shipped off to Eastern Europe.
Mum to a 15 month old and newborn, she explained: "Being a mum and recently becoming one again - I couldn't control my tears when I saw people being separated from their children.
"And when I saw elderly people having to walk such long distances to safety, I knew I needed to do something.
"It made sense for us to use the ice cream shop as a donation point for people to come and contribute what they have."
The 31-year-old says she's been "overwhelmed" by the response from local people: "From the minute we open to the minute we close, we've been busy with donations.
"Lots of people have been doing collections on their street or offering to help transport items, it's really lovely to see the solidarity."
The plan is for the donations to be sent to another restaurant, Sushi Yami in North Shields, which is owned by a Ukranian couple.
From there, they will be taken onwards to Ukraine over the weekend.
Rosa continued: "I believe they are still looking for a company to help with transporting stuff down to London and beyond, because we've gathered more than was expected."
The team are still looking for items such as nappies, blankets, hot water bottles, thermal flasks, charging points, energy bars, first aid kits, female sanitary products and sleeping mats.
If people from the area are wanting to donate, they are advised to take items to the ice cream shop in Whitley Bay for sorting before Friday.
For the latest local news in your area direct to your inbox every day, go here to sign up to our free newsletter
