‘GLORY TO UKRAINE’
Appeals get underway to help ‘defenders’ and those in need
Appeals are underway across the region to help those in Ukraine, following what has been described as one of the largest military operations since WWII.
‘Glory to Ukraine’, a Ukrainian national salute, appeared painted on the exterior of a building on Barrack Street, Fermoy as news of the invasion broke on Thursday last, February 24. A small sign of support, as people view TV images and consume media updates with horror.
Ukraine has been faced with a barrage of airstrikes on cities and military bases around the country, with Russian forces closing in on Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv and it was reported on Wednesday that Russian airborne troops had landed in Kharkiv, leading to immediate clashes.
Kharkiv is a largely Russian speaking city near the Russian border with a population of around 1.4 million and is believed to have been a target for Russian forces since the invasion began.
‘SHELTER OUR SKY’
Ukrainian nationals living locally began an appeal following news of the invasion in order to help those fighting against Russian forces and on Monday, sent two car loads, full of supplies, in transit to those in need.
Speaking with TheAvondhu, Mitchelstown local and Ukrainian national Iryna Kotyk, explained how the appeal began.
“There is a small number of Ukrainian families in Mitchelstown and Fermoy. We can’t set up a huge donation centre for all refugees, so we decided to start collecting to help our defenders. Men aged from 18 to 60 are staying with the army to help. They need our help and protection too,” Iryna said.
Items required included thermal clothing, sleeping bags, military clothing, thermos flasks, military backpacks, helmets, lanterns, batteries, first aid kits and medicines.
“We need the bulletproof vests, helmets and military equipment, but you can’t buy that here in Ireland. It’s not legal. We need help from the Government.
“Shelter our sky and we will handle the rest – we don’t have the big airports and rockets to take care of the sky if the sky is open. If they would shelter our sky, we would do the rest. Our people on the ground will take care of the rest,” Iryna added.
DONATIONS
As the appeal to help those defending Ukraine continues, one lorry of supplies left for the country on Tuesday, with another currently being prepared.
Several local people and businesses have already contributed to the efforts. Thanks were extended to Fitzgibbon’s totalhealth Pharmacy and the Fitzgibbon family in Mitchelstown, Mellerick’s Pharmacy in Fermoy and Carry Out Fermoy for their participation in aid collection.
“Karen and Yvonne Murphy of Murphy’s Abbey Pharmacy responded to our appeal with a very generous donation of supplies which will be invaluable to our defenders in Ukraine,” Iryna said.
Special thanks were also extended to McCauley Pharmacy in Fermoy for generous donations of first aid supplies and to all the people who donated in Fermoy and Mitchelstown.
Donations to the ‘defenders’ are being accepted in Fermoy by Oleg and Maryna Shevelova (086-3387444) and in Mitchelstown by Iryna Kotyk (087-2451392). GREAT RESPONSE
Appeals to help those injured and fleeing have also been launched locally and among those seeking to help are Fermoy’s Noreen Cody and Edyta Kowalczyk, who have been gathering donations of items to be sent to those in need.
“I was thinking about it all week, what’s going on in Ukraine, and I wanted to do something. I had put a post up on Facebook, but I took it down again because I didn’t know how I was going to get all these things sent out there,” Noreen told TheAvondhu.
Having spoken with Polish national Edyta Kowalczyk while at a local salon, Noreen and Edyta made a plan to help Ukraine and restarted the appeal.
“The donations came in massively, they were flying through the front door,” Noreen said.
Hendrick European, a haulage company also got on board with the appeal, as they were travelling to Ukraine, and agreed to transport donations.
Local schools, preschools and businesses all got on board with the initiative, with retailers agreeing to put donation boxes in place and schools planning to do something special too.
“The response has been huge. We’ve had one school in Mitchelstown who are getting the children to draw a picture for every donation box so that Ukraine can see that the people of Ireland are thinking of them”.
TEAM HOPE
Speaking with TheAvondhu on Monday, Noreen noted that her kitchen was ‘ half full’ already with donations, despite having only shared the appeal publicly the Friday before.
“Lots of local people and businesses have gotten on board. The response has been huge really. Everybody is saddened by what’s been happening and the fact that people can donate and give, it’s their way of contributing,” Noreen said.
After weeks of build-up, the Russian invasion of Ukraine also saw Team Hope responding with an appeal, as they rolled out supports for those affected by the conflict.
“Team Hope has worked in Ukraine for decades through our partner based in Odessa. Together with them this year we delivered 34,642 shoeboxes to children affected by poverty,” a statement from the organisation read.
“Our partners have been planning for the last number of weeks how they can best assist those affected by conflict. They will now be mobilising to meet emergency needs such as providing emergency food, hygiene kits or other essential support and as the situation becomes clearer, Team Hope will be supporting them in this,” the statement continued.
OTHER APPEALS
In Rathcormac, a separate appeal got underway to help evacuees stuck at the Polish and Ukrainian border. Sharing a list of items, food, sleeping items, hygiene products, first aid items and more, were amongst the donations sought after.
The appeal was coordinated by the Polish Christmas Charity Orchestra and MyCork.
Appeals were also underway in West Waterford, with collections at various locations throughout the county being organised by ‘Stand with Ukraine – Waterford’.