Residents across Stirling are donating vital supplies for desperate Ukrainians fleeing Russian forces.
Russia’s military invasion has seen a number of cities across the country targeted and more than 600,000 Ukrainians displaced.
Thousands have fled the country to the border with Poland where camps have been set up as volunteers plead for warm clothes, baby essentials and medicine.
Among those answering the call locally are Bridge of Allan residents who have been donating supplies which will be loaded into a lorry and driven to Poland to refugees at the border as well as those in the Ukraine.
Ania Sandland, CEO of mental health charity Central Wellbeing, organised the drive. She said: “Like everyone else, I have been following the news and feeling unbearably helpless.
“I’ve made a financial donation to a group providing medical aid but it didn’t feel enough. I started looking for other ways to help and came across a group of Polish people organising a couple of collections in Glasgow and Fife. I couldn’t find one around Stirling and decided to start one myself.
“A local community venue – The Hope Hub in Denny – has agreed to let me use their space as a drop off point.
“The response from the community has been overwhelming, people have been so generous with offers of donations and their time to help with sorting and packing. It’s honestly heart-warming, I’d like to take the opportunity to thank people.
“I’m now working closely with the Hub and have also joined forces with other groups, to get the donations to where they’re needed most. Denny High School is helping with the transport, as they are also collecting.”
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Bridge of Allan Parish Church is acting as the designated collection point, set up in partnership with the community council
Items needed include: painkillers, including painkillers for babies; anti-inflammatory medications; bandages; dressings; hemostatic dressing; plasters; hydrogen dioxide; blankets, sleeping bags, foam mattresses, military or outdoor boots; canned food; torches; candles; nappies, baby food, baby milk, baby bottles, warm baby clothing and warm kids’ clothes.
Items will be transferred to the Denny hub before being packaged and sent on to the Ukraine/Poland border.
Rev Dan Harper, minister at Bridge of Allan Parish Church, said: “It’s such a privilege to be at the heart of a community that responds with such compassion and generosity to those who are suffering in Ukraine. As a church we must pray, but we must also respond with practical ways where we can.
“The village of Bridge of Allan has come together in a remarkable way, from the parish church and the community council, the merchants, including Strathallan Pharmacy and the Hardware Store.
“The message in all of this is we support and recognise the humanity of those suffering in Ukraine, we cry out for peace, and need to put pressure on our government to respond to those seeking refuge with the openness and generosity seen in our community these last few days.”
Bridge of Allan resident Alison Connal was keen to get involved in the charitable mission.
She said: “I came across the original post from the lady asking for donations at the Denny hub. After reading it and seeing how amazing this was I got in contact with her to see if I could share the information and gather some donations in Bridge of Allan.
“She was more than happy for all donations. After that I thought I would share all the information so I could try and do my bit to help this horrendous time.
“After sharing it , I was overwhelmed by the amount of help and generosity to help me. I was then in contact with Tori, who has been great help getting the Bridge of Allan Parish Church on-board to help store and drop off donations.
“I genuinely can not believe the help and just so glad I can do my bit to help all those in need.
In Callander, items are also being collected. These will be driven to Slovenia to help with the refugee crisis.
The aid collection point is located at the MNV offices, on Stirling Road, and has been set up by Mary and Richard Johnson.
Mr Johnson said: “We aim to collect the most urgently needed items and send them by truck to the Slovenian border. We have contacts in Slovenia who have advised on the items to send and they will also help to distribute the aid to the Ukrainian people.”
Also in Callander, a special prayer vigil is to be held tonight (Wednesday) for the people of Ukraine. Callander Kirk will host the vigil at 7.30pm. All are welcome.
Killin and Ardeonaig Parish Church is inviting the community to remember the Ukrainian people. The church will be open for the public to share their concern and express solidarity for those suffering. There will be an opportunity to spend a moment of reflection; light a candle; or offer a silent prayer. The church will be open tonight (Wednesday) from 6pm-9pm and Thursday from 9am-9pm.
There will also be a book of condolences which will be sent to the people of Ukraine in a show of support
