Community effort to help Ukrainians
Aid floods east as locals rally round
Community groups and businesses have rallied to help Ukraine.
Countries around the world are trying to help support Ukrainian citizens by offering humanitarian aid.
And across South Lanarkshire a number of communities have come together to donate all they can – including baby items, blankets, clothes and medical supplies.
The efforts have been amazing so far with one Scout group in Hamilton collecting thousands of items in just a few days.
The 112th Lanarkshire Scouts group, which is based in Hamilton, had also launched its own appeal with donations being sent out to Poland to support the thousands of innocent people currently fleeing the conflict in Ukraine.
The group, who meet at Our Lady and St Anne’s hall in Jack Street, have been overwhelmed by the response so far.
Gary Ward, 112th Lanarkshire Group Scout leader, said: “We launched our appeal last weekend and we were flooded with donations. We wanted to do all that we could to help.
“We’ve had donations of clothing and essentials for young people too. People have just been amazing. It’s been a fantastic response so far. We’ve already filled a mini-bus full and will continue with our efforts.”
Donations were being accepted up until last Thursday, March 3, and were then shipped over the weekend.
Gary added: “We are hopeful that there will be more shipments in the near future.”
Meanwhile, Larkhall businesswoman
Nicola Mccallum, who runs L’perfection on the town’s Union Street, was keen to help and has started a collection in her salon’s spare room.
Since offering to help she has been inundated with items.
She told the Advertiser: “We began by helping a local gentleman gather donations, which are being headed up by Honeywell, with the shipment then being organised for Poland then onto Ukraine.
“I think they have now received a huge amount so we are going to keep things going to help with donations and we will be in touch with the Red Cross and Unicef.
“We’ve had a great response already and we’ve had lots of donations. I really just wanted to see what we could do to help at first and now it is really bringing the whole community together.”