Emergency collection
A collection is being held in Callander this weekend for much needed emergency supplies to be sent to help Ukrainians fleeing war.
The town’s fifth collection is to be held tomorrow (Saturday) and Sunday.
It is once again being organised by Richard and Mary Johnson who have been staging their own donation drives from their MNV offices, in Stirling Road.
To get the goods to Ukraine, Mr and Mrs Johnson have hired a Slovakian courier to transport the goods to eastern Slovakia, where the local council in Spisska Nova Ves have been taking the goods over the border to the Ukrainian town of Tyachiv.
Mr Johnson this week said: “We spoke to our contacts in eastern Slovakia to see if aid is still needed. The reply was a clear yes with a list of items which they need including children’s and ladies summer shoes, school supplies and school bags, toothpaste and toothbrushes, washing powder and detergents as well as baby food and instant porridge.
“The list of priority items has changed over the past weeks with the initial need being clothing and bedding but now it is more day to day items. This thankfully shows that the situation is slowly getting better, with the flow of refugees over the border gradually decreasing but the need is now to support those people who arrived a few weeks ago.”
Donations will be accepted at the MNV offices and will be open from 10am to 6pm.
Mr Johnson added: “In the past two months we have collected 3.5 tonnes of essential aid and raised over £7000 to pay for transport. This has been a magnificent effort by the people in Callander and surrounding villages.
“Our contacts in Slovakia really appreciate the donations and have sent letters of thanks and included a special feature about this in their regional magazine.”