I, like the rest of the world, am deeply concerned about the intensification of fighting over the past few days in Ukraine. I know that constituents have been asking if they can help in any way.
I am pleased that Newcastle-under-Lyme BID and Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council are gratefully accepting donations for delivery to Ukraine. The Council has set up a “We Stand With Ukraine” shop unit in Newcastle town centre, free of charge, to use as a collection point for community donations to the war-torn country.
Organisers Maria Leligdowicz and Olena Cresswell, who come from the Ukraine, have family members caught up in the conflict. They are accepting a range of donations including:
Foil survival blankets
Warm blankets
Sleeping Bags
Thermal/warm clothing
Baby food & nappies
Sanitary products
Toiletries
First Aid kits
Medical Bandages
Flasks
You can leave them off at 17 Merrial Street, Newcastle-under-Lyme, ST5 2AE on weekdays 10am-3pm & 5-7pm and at weekends 10am-1pm. For more information, please contact Maria on 07525 766699.
Keele University are also collecting items to aid refugees on the Polish/Ukrainian border. Their donation point is The Hub at Keele Student Union and in Lennard Jones (LJ 1.74) until the 9th of March.
Financial donations to the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) are the best way of reaching the needy most quickly. Fifteen UK aid agencies - including the British Red Cross, Oxfam and Save the Children - have joined together to ask the public to donate through the DEC.
The DEC raised £55 million in its first day. The total includes £20m donated by the UK government as part of its UK Aid Match scheme, as well as private donations from the Queen, the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Cambridge.
You can donate to the DEC here (or via other participating charities): https://donate.redcross.org.uk/appeal/ukraine-crisis-appeal
