Donations from local businesses, schools and people across North Wales arrived in southeast Poland last night, close to the Ukraine border.
The lorry full of goods, transported by Gwynedd Shipping Group, left Holyhead on 28 March, completing the final leg of the 390-mile journey by arriving at the International Red Cross drop off point in Southeast Poland on Thursday evening.
The donations, which included everything from clothing, blankets, baby food and supplies for pets, were received from businesses, schools, community groups and individuals across Anglesey and beyond. In Bangor, parents and pupils from Ysgol Cae Top donated and Morrisons in Bangor provided ‘donation bags’ in store for customers to buy at the checkout. All the donations were taken over to Holyhead ready to be transported over to the Ukraine border.
As the conflict continues to escalate, more than half of Ukraine’s 7.5 million children have now been displaced. With explosions in major cities across the country and thousands of families being forced to flee their homes.
Homes, schools, water supplies and hospitals have been damaged or destroyed. Children have been separated from their families and hundreds of thousands of people have been left without safe water, electricity or water. Explosives including landmines are a daily threat to children’s lives.
More than 3 million people have now fled Ukraine, with the number expected to climb to 5 million.
A statement on the Gwynedd Shipping Group Facebook page said: “After a final leg of 390 miles our aid trailer from Holyhead has safely arrived at our Red Cross drop off in Southeast Poland, close to the Ukraine border. Congratulations to the local organisers and our driver Andrzej.”
Andrew Winston-Jones, who coordinated the appeal with a team of volunteers, said: “A very brief but humbled update from us all, we’ve arrived!! Our truck has arrived in Poland supported and driven by Gwynedd Shipping Group and our driver Andrzej Wilk 💙💛 We are beyond humbled. Words cannot describe our thanks towards this humanitarian mission.
“We’ve touched down at our donation centre – your community donations have arrived! 🙏 Bravo! Absolutely amazing. How we can make mountains move as one great community. We’re so proud. Thank you/Diolch.”
Holyhead Neighbourhood Policing Team were proud to have escorted Gwynedd Shipping out of Holyhead today as the wagon headed on its journey to Ukraine carrying Humanitarian Aid.
PC Lisa Thomas said: “We would like to thank the driver Andrzej Wilk and Gwynedd Shipping for their kindness in agreeing to take all of our items collected by our local community .
“We would also like to thank Andrew Winston Jones and his team for all of their efforts in making this happen.
“The support from our local communities has been amazing and we wish Andrzej a safe journey.”
Photos: North Wales Police
