Organisers of an appeal for items to be sent to Ukraine from Co Tyrone and Co Fermanagh say they have been ‘overwhelmed’ by the initial response to the campaign.
Members of the polish community in Strabane, Omagh and Enniskillen launched the appeal for essential items earlier this week, with thousands of items being donated and dropped off at the Basia polish stores.
Medical supplies were among the items donated by a raft of local companies free of charge, with the donations to be shipped to Poland before making their way to Ukraine.
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Volunteer Joanna Peplinska says within three hours they already had one lorry load of supplies ready to be sent to the war-torn region.
“It was absolutely amazing the response we got, the help we received was just unbelievable,” Joanna said.
“We have been overwhelmed by the amount of people who have come forward and donated to the appeal.
“Yesterday was the best day of my life, it’s amazing to see how people here are feeling what is happening there and are ready to help.
“The supplies will be taken from Strabane to the Cooltura organisation in Belfast and sent straight to Poland and Ukraine.
“Today we sent the first van to Belfast and planned to send a lorry on Thursday night.”
Joanna, who works as a nurse in the Waterside Hospital, is originally from a town near the Polish border with Ukraine.
“I have cried a lot over the last few days, we have seen a lot of people coming in and saying they remember the Troubles and the violence they lived through," she said.
“I have a lot of friends who live beside the border and from Ukraine and it’s just heartbreaking what is happening.”
The appeal is ongoing, with several items in particular being requested by the volunteers:
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Thermal blankets
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Sleeping bags
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Sleeping mats
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Inflatable mattresses
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First aid kits
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Disposable masks and gloves
“We ask people to leave whatever donations they want to give to the Basia Polish shop beside Ulster Bank in Strabane,” Joanna added.
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