Children orphaned by the war in Ukraine and others who's fathers are fighting for their country have thanked an East Kilbride firm for its humanitarian efforts in a heartwarming video.
Up to 40 youngsters are being looked after by nuns in the Niepokalanek Monastery in Jazloweic, Ukraine, after fleeing Kharkiv which has endured 48 days of battle.
The Russian invasion forced them to flee Kharkiv with all the children risking their lives.
In a short video message the children - along with some children and their mothers who had to flee Kharkiv to sheltered accommodation - showed their appreciation by thanking everyone in the UK and Poland who has donated to help them get through the deadly conflict.
As part of their continued efforts to send aid to the war-torn country, East Kilbride-based Merson Group gave the kids a much-needed morale boost by sending toys, colouring books and games to those displaced by war.
Merson are continuing to collect aid from local charities and the White Eagle Club in London, with a second shipment landing at their sister company Sign Pro in Poland earlier this week.
The truckload will be once again distributed to Poland charities looking after Ukrainian refugees as well as being sent across the border through volunteers into the most needed areas.
One of the nuns travels to Kharkiv personally to deliver the hygiene products, baby food, nappies, flashlights, batteries and candles to places where no other support reaches in Ukraine.
A third collection has been organised with the aim of having more supplies in Poland and Ukraine by April 26.
Simon Burchell from Mersons told Lanarkshire Live : “We are trying to be more targeted with the deliveries and we are trying to listen to what the most important items are.
“We tend to let Sign Pro buy the more difficult items to send such as food/tins/instant meals via the money donated by the UK staff.
“Here in UK we concentrate more on the bedding, sleeping bags, clothing, First Aid kits, bandages, batteries, feminine hygiene, nappies and liquid soap.”
East Kilbride construction firm AKP Scotland Ltd have also donated a whopping 40 wheelchairs to the collection after renovating a former care home which are awaiting delivery at Merson’s Essex depot.
As reported in the East Kilbride News, kind-hearted Merson staff rallied round and raised a whopping £12,000 to help 15 fellow workers based in Poland whose families have chosen to stay in the war-torn country.
Trucks bound for their Polish site in Wloclawek have left with vital supplies each week.
CEO Roddy Angus told us : “We have activities in mainland Europe which brings the crisis in Ukraine ever closer to home so we want to keep assisting where we can.”
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