LOCAL RALLY TO AID UKRAINE
As the war escalates in Ukraine, groups and individuals in The Avondhu area have been busy organising aid for the stricken region.
A truck filled with donations left Fermoy on Friday last destined for the Polish border.
Fermoy locals Noreen Cody and Edyta Kowalczyk had begun seeking donations and haulage company, Hendrick European, sent a truck to the collection point at Circle K in Fermoy where it was loaded up with what had been donated.
Local company, Fermoy Transport Services (FTS) Logistics also got on board, helping to transport donations from Mitchelstown and Fermoy to the pickup point on Friday.
Two teachers from Coláiste an Chraoibhín sprang into action and along with a number of students, compiled and collected donations.
“We had a short window to collect, sort, box and load the truck which is destined for the Polish Ukrainian border,” a spokesperson for Coláiste said.
Silver Pail provided boxes, XL on Emmet Street provided food for all the Transition Years that helped out and they also gave generously to the plight.
OPENING HOMES
And as all this was going on, one local woman and her partner opened their home in Castlelyons to a couple who arrived in Ireland last week. Ciara Lenehan, who is a social worker, has been helping Volodymyr and Helayna to get organised with PPS numbers and other things.
One local woman and her partner will be among the earliest providers of a home for displaced Ukrainians, after opening their home to a couple who arrived in Ireland last week. Ciara Lenehan lives outside of Fermoy in the Castlelyons area, and says that she was driven to make the offer as their house, which they are renovating, has several empty bedrooms that could be of use.
Currently staying in Glengarriff, when Ukrainians Volodymyr and Helayna arrived at Dublin Airport, they did not contact authorities as they were wary of being put in a refugee centre. Minister Rodric O’Gorman however, has confirmed that as EU nationals, displaced Ukrainians will not be entered into the Direct Provision system.
Ciara had joined a group on Facebook that was linking people who had accommodation to offer with those that needed it, but says that the system the government are now running is going to be important for both host families and those staying.
“I think Facebook was ahead of the government! Before the processes got up and running I saw there were pages and groups online, offering accommodation and shelter for people in Ukraine. I saw people were offering accommodation so I offered a space.”
“I have been helping them to get organised with PPS numbers and other things. I’m a social worker so I’m good at navigating some of the bureaucracy! People might be nervous and apprehensive about taking strangers into their house, so I think having the government supports there will be very important for people.
“We have the spare room, and we don’t have any children. We also both work full time so it’s ideal. It is a little isolated where we are, but we’ll put them in contact with the bus routes and get a bike sorted so they can cycle into town, and once they’re settled in they can look at getting the driver’s licence converted to an Irish one if that’s something they need.”
Ciara says it’s important for anyone volunteering accommodation to be aware that it may be a long-term responsibility. “It’s important to go through the official channels, and to be aware that this could be quite a long-term commitment.”