GROUPS organising support for Ukrainian refugees have said they have been ‘overwhelmed’ by the kindness and generosity of local people.
Donations of clothes, bedding, medical supplies and other vital supplies have filled up three barns, a 20-tonne truck and three warehouses, with organisers now in the process of getting these sent to Ukrainian refugees at a Volunteer Centre Association in Lublin, Poland.
Monetary donations have also been pouring in as the local community shows its support for the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Ukraine.
Westbury Lions Club said they were inundated with supplies during their collection last week and paid tribute to the community after raising over £800 in just four hours, with a collection outside the library.
“We were overwhelmed with the very generous contributions that the awesome people of Westbury donated!” said Westbury Lions’ president, Tracey Sheppard. “The community of Westbury have been fantastic.” (Full story – see page 9)
Daykin Estates, who are co-ordinating the collections locally, say they have been ‘overwhelmed by the kindness and generosity’ of the local people.
Jenna Daykin say they are no longer accepting donations of supplies as they have had such a fantastic response, but are appealing for financial donations to help pay for the transportation costs involved with getting the items to Ukrainian refugees in Poland.
You can donate at www.gofundme.com/f/money-for-the-people-of-ukraine.
Westbury Town Council is signposting people to Wiltshire Council’s website if they want to support those affected by the conflict, which includes donating to the Ukraine Disaster Emergency Committee Crisis Appeal. Visit www.wiltshire. gov.uk/support-for-ukraine for more details.
Town Council support
WESTBURY town councillors spoke passionately about the need to show support and solidarity for the people of Ukraine following the invasion by Russia, and they have agreed to fly the Ukrainian flag as a symbol of their support.
Town councillors also spoke passionately about the need to show their support and solidarity to those people affected by the Russian aggression in Ukraine.
Cllr Mark Bailey put forward a motion at the recent meeting of Westbury Town Council for the local authority to show support for Ukraine, which was widely accepted by councillors who felt it was only right for Westbury to fly the Ukrainian flag.
Cllr Gordon King said at the meeting, “I think it’s an extremely important thing to do, not least to show our solidarity with the people of Ukraine, but also in recognition that the people in Ukraine are standing up for freedom and democracy in a very stoic way that we are not currently.
“We enjoy freedoms that we’ve had for a very long time that they have only recently found and developed, only to find the wrath of a former super power who decided that they were in their sphere of influence. It’s not about defiance, it’s about showing solidarity.”
Cllr Mike Sutton added, “I think this speaks for everything we believe in. I remember when I joined the council years ago, one of our focusses was freedom of democracy, freedom to say what you think, and the freedom to support other people – and that’s whether it’s in Ukraine or elsewhere.”
Cllr Hamilton Sheen asked, “Will the council fly a flag for every country invaded? I feel terribly sorry for the Ukrainians but we didn’t do anything when America invaded countries, will we be doing it every time someone gets invaded?”
In response, Cllr Jane Russ said, “I disagree with Cllr Hamilton Sheen on this. It makes it sound trivial by saying ‘are we going to support everybody in this situation.’ I think the reason this has struck such a chord with the whole of the rest of Europe is because we’ve been here before.
“I am in no way agreeing with previous foreign power invasions but I am saying that in this particular incidence, it is the fact that we have been here before – anyone over about 65 remembers what happened; they have relatives that were there and who fought the last war. This is becoming a reality for those in Ukraine.”
