Volunteers collecting donations to help the stricken people of Ukraine say they have been overwhelmed by the generosity of West Lothian locals.
Individuals and organisations around the county leapt into action following Russia’s invasion two weeks ago.
And many say they have been left staggered by the kindness of people who are desperate to help.
Lorraine Orr is an outreach worker at St Michael’s Church in Linlithgow who has been co-ordinating donations handed into the church for Ukraine.
They posted on Facebook last Thursday for items to be handed in and had to stop the appeal within a day as they had received so much.
Lorraine said: “We were inundated with donations. We were really overwhelmed.
“We’ve collected toiletries, over 300 packets of nappies, over 600 packets of wipes, sanitiser hand gel, clothes, blankets, sleeping bags, roll mats, food and this is just in Linlithgow at the
church.
“It’s phenomenal - it’s more than I had expected.
“I had cornered off a small room and we’re now using three rooms.
“We’ve been through to Strathclyde Country Park, Cambuslang and Falkirk to drop off donations to various places so they can be sent to Ukraine.
“These are some of the various points we’ve been taking items to, but McNicoll van hire gave us a van for nothing to do the runs.
“People have just been so generous and kind.”
Lorraine said the church is looking at launching another appeal next week for more specific items that are desperately needed, like medicines.
She continued: “We also might do another donation drive, we’ll just wait and see what’s needed.
“The drop-off points have been saying that mostly it’s medical stuff and roll mats and sleeping bags will be the main thing.”
Lorraine said word quickly spread in Linlithgow with people eager to help the cause.
She said: “I put a notice up on the church Facebook page and also there are a couple of Linlithgow pages that I put it on.
“What I found really interesting was that people I’d never met before, or who had no church connection with us came to drop off donations, saw how overwhelmed we were so took their jackets off and stayed to help.
“It’s just so kind and they also came back to help load the vans.
“The sense of community has been strong, which has been really nice.
“I think people feel helpless and they don’t know how to help, so giving their time and their donations has been key for them.
“We’re so grateful to everyone.”
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