Heron’s aid takes flight for eastern Europe hot spots
A popular Strathaven cafe helping to provide humanitarian aid for Ukrainians fleeing war has been “overwhelmed”with donations.
The Heron Farm Shop & Kitchen appealed for emergency supplies for tens of thousands of refugees who have been displaced to Poland following the Russian invasion.
The UN Refugee Agency says more than 400,000 have left the country since Russian troops moved in.
Appealing for clothes, blankets, duvets, sleeping bags, toys, nappies and canned food to help families devastated by war, the team at The Heron acted as a drop-point for their team at Mossgiel Organic Farm in Ayrshire, who launched the drive.
The farm has taken in a whopping three lorries’worth of stuff, which has gone straight to Europe to help those most in need.
Staff members Konrad and Olga, who are originally from Poland, are organising the effort to send lorries full of donated supplies to refugees who desperately need their help.
The Heron Farm owner Emma Smith said they had to turn people away after collecting enough donations to fill “three or four lorries”.
She said:“after watching the horrendous situation unfold on the news our team felt very passionately about wanting to do something to help.
“In just 24 hours we were overwhelmed with donations – from toys, clothing, toiletries and canned food to bedding and nappies. A lot of it is newly bought as well.”
Donations came in from Lanarkshire, Ayrshire and beyond with big-hearted folk, some of whom with family ties to Ukraine or Poland, travelling up to 40 minutes to show their support.
Pet Empawrium pet supplies in East Kilbride have also pitched in as a collection point.
Owner Sara Najafian has been loading up her van with donations headed for the Ayrshire farm and delivering loads to a newly-formed collection in Sandford.
Emma added:“there were bags and bags of stuff, our barn was overflowing.
“I was really quite emotional, it brought home just how good people are in a crisis.
“Things are changing all the time, collections getting full and new ones popping up – such amazing community spirit and desire to help. Strathaven has always been a great community.
“This war feels very close to home. We’re watching fathers having to say goodbye to their children, it’s like something out of World War II.
“Thanks to the power of social media we can do something to help.”
Director and farmer at Mossgiel, Bryce Cunningham, said they wanted to help out all of those people involved in the Ukraine crisis“in any way they could”.
He said:“we just sort of decided we wanted to do our bit, and it’s went a bit crazy!
“We have been taking donations for a couple of days, and at one point the village was actually gridlocked.
“We have been supported unbelievably well, our aim was to fill an artic lorry, and we have managed to fill three so far, it has been quite incredible, absolutely amazing.
“The response from the public has been pretty overwhelming at times.”
He added:“it’s awful what’s happening, for something like this to happen in our lifetime is unbelievable. It’s great to see everyone getting behind the cause.
“It shows the spirit of people, we have got such a fantastic Polish and Ukrainian community in Scotland too, they are great people, it’s our time to help them out.”