A Scot saved Christmas for hundreds of orphans who fled war-torn Ukraine by ensuring they had presents to open from Santa.
Gavin Menzies has continuously visited Ukraine and Poland since the conflict broke out to supply vital aid, such as clothes and medical supplies, to displaced orphans.
The 36-year-old, from Ratho in Edinburgh, raised just over £11,000 to support kids from Odessa evacuated to Poland following the illegal invasion by Russia.
Gavin learned more than 600 orphans from the Black Sea port city staying in Poland had written up Christmas lists which those caring for them couldn’t fulfil.
With Christmas approaching, he sprung into action to raise funds to deliver gifts to the youngsters.
Gavin, who runs a holiday camp, Games at the Gate and the High Flyers Basketball Academy in Edinburgh, was initially given 19 Santa lists to try and help with, but soon found people’s generosity allowed him to do more.
He told Edinburgh Live: “I reached out to a few organisations that I’d been doing my masters Play Therapy placements with and without hesitation, parents began offering to purchase gifts for the initial 19 children whose Santa lists I’d been sent. These gifts ranged from dolls, toy cars, painting and crafting sets and some games.
“I then got help from singer songwriter Heidi Talbot who got the Ratho Village Children’s Folk Choir to sing the song Silent Night. This was put up on Spotify with all proceeds going to the Orphans of Ukraine.
“The Rotary Club of Currie and Balerno and the Pentland Ukrainian Support Group combined, provided me with a further £1,500 which meant I was able to purchase enough board games and toys for a further 600 orphans, all living within this displaced community.
“It meant that they would have something to open on Christmas morning. Christmas just isn’t the same without children’s joy and for these children, it wouldn’t be right if they were denied a proper Christmas.”
The youngsters weren’t told of the surprise and were taken out for a walk while the presents, wrapped in Ukrainian national colours, were readied.
Gavin added: “When the kids came round the corner and seen it was me they came running with smiles and laughter.
“We opened gifts and sang songs and shared the experience.”
Gavin collected presents through donations in Edinburgh. With the £1,500 he filled up a van with board games and other gifts he secure from a large toy shop in Poland.
Together he was able to supply gifts from Santa to the 600 kids spending Christmas away from Odessa.
He added: “I had no idea just how many people would come forward to help, and in the end, I had a surplus of toys and gifts that could go towards the other Odessa orphans in Poland.
“We also ended up having surplus back home that all went to Edinburgh children and families for Christmas.
“But it was by no means a solo effort, my friends pitched in to wrap presents, pack bags, help sort flights and my family are incredibly supportive of what I do."
The proceeds from the Ratho Village Children’s Folk Choir’s rendition of Silent Night will go towards supporting the orphan children of Ukraine.
Gavin has vowed to return again in the new year to support the community until the end of the conflict and beyond.
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