Moray locals provide massive donation boost for Ukrainian refugees in Poland
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PEOPLE in Moray have been praised for their efforts to help Ukrainian refugees flooding in to Poland.
Collections organised across Moray to provide vital resources to refugees have been a huge success.
On February 24, Russian forces launched a devastating attack on Ukraine and the fighting has forced many to flee their homes.
According to the Polish Ministry for Foreign Affairs more than 115,000 refugees have already crossed the border to Poland, with many in Ukraine still attempting to flee.
Several local organisations have already created donation collection points including Elgin's Polish Deli Food Plus, Weir Black Belt Academy and Keith Grammar School.
The donations will then be driven directly to Poland's border with Ukraine and distributed to refugees.
Anna Rybacka, who is organising one of the donation drives from Elgin's Polish Deli, said: "We did not expect such an amazing response from people. We've had lots of support and donations.
Anna had posted an appeal to her Facebook, expecting only a handful of people to respond and was blown away when the post received hundreds of shares.
The van used to transport the donations was donated by the Deli and within two hours of arriving, it was full to the brim with donations from people in Elgin. She added: "Its an absolute credit to local people, they're amazing and without them we would never have been able to help so much."
Keith Grammar School have also seen an incredible response to their campaign, with many families purchasing or bringing in donations of first aid products and cold weather gear such as sleeping bags and flasks.
Liz Bain, who helped organise the school's collection said: "It's good to have something to do to help. Everyone is worried and feeling helpless and by donating to refugees it provides us with a way to help them."
The school has also committed to continuing to collect donations for as long as possible.
Linda Gorn, the chairwoman of United Keith, pledged to share any details of local collections on the United Keith Facebook page and urged people to support the people of Ukraine in any way they can:
"People are leaving with nothing. It is so sad to see it unfolding on television.
"Our hearts and thoughts go out to them. It is an impossible situation."
Mrs Gorn also said the Keith Kilt and Textile Centre has agreed to act as a collection point for another local appeal with donations already given from local businesses including The Deli Shop in Keith and Bairds and Clarks pharmacies, who have donated food, toiletries and baby items.
The donations will provide a vital resource to Ukrainian refugees at the border who are enduring severe cold, lack of food and long waits and often have very little with them.
Donations of medical items such as bandages and paracetamol, warm socks and sleeping bags and baby supplies like nappies and milk, are all desperately needed to support Ukrainian refugees in Poland.
Items can be dropped off at Elgin's Polish Deli Food Plus, Elgin's Weir Black Belt Academy on Tuesday 12 - 7pm, Keith Grammar School before 4pm Tuesday, with another collection planned for later this week and The Keith Kilt and Textile Centre or McPhersons in Mid Street, Keith at any time.
