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Ola Riquet and Joanne O Grady with what has been collected so far for the Ukranian aid effort.

Polish Community Ukraine Fund Ola Riquet and Joanne O Grady with what has been collected so far.

GOREY SUPPORTS UKRAINE has launched a humanitarian campaign in association with local international organisation Gorey pl (Polish Cultural Association).

I n response to the war in Ukraine, supplies are being collected at Devhaus, 68 Main Street, Gorey Monday to Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Hickey’s Pharmacy at Gorey Shopping Centre, open seven days a week from 9 a.m. Monday to Saturday and 11 a.m. on Sunday.

Separately, Transition Year students at Creagh College have also started a collection which will take place every morning from 8.40 a.m. to 10.20 a.m.

The students suggest donations of cleaning products, PPE, medicine and equipment, thermal blankets or duvets, disposable cutlery, sanitary products as well as power-banks, batteries and torches.

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At 36 Garden City, Chernobyl Group Project are taking donations of supplies – contact Kay on 087 2138523.

Although happy to see so much being donated so far to the cause, Ola Riquet said that Gorey’s international community are “deeply saddened by the horrific attack on Ukraine by Russia”.

Setting up the response, Gorey pl has teamed up with the Folkowisko Association to establish support for refugees and those who need medical aid within Ukraine.

“The association Folkowisko is a well established organisation promoting folk culture. They are located close to the border with Ukraine at Chutor Gorajec and from day one have provided support to those in need. We have worked with them on different projects in the past and know them to be trustworthy. As a nation historically experienced by the burden of war, we feel obliged to help people of Ukraine,” said Ola.

She added that the need for aid is critical as thousands of Ukrainian citizens have been crossing Polish borders to find refuge.

According to information from Folkowisko Association, the items most needed right now are: Medical first aid: disposable gloves, ace bandages, curved scissors, thermal blankets, tweezers, triangular bandages, plasters, gauze, gauze swabs, safety pins, clasps, disinfectants, antiseptic wipes, sterile compresses, elastic bands, painkillers, gel compresses for heating and cooling, cotton wool etc.

Lisa Power of Hickey’s Pharmacy said that she has been blown away by the support Gorey people have shown so far.

“On the first day we had four full boxes of stuff and this is more medical aid like bandages and cotton wool collected. A lot of people called in just to buy supplies to donate straight away at the till, and a lot of people bought pain killers as well as children’s nappies. It came as a shock to see the amount of people popping in but people have been so nice and I’m honestly baffled by how good people really are.

“As soon as I saw Gorey pl’s campaign I offered up Hickey’s as I know we have a lot of space here. The point of this is that the smallest thing we can give or donate will help, it doesn’t have to be major and you just never know what you might have at home that could help. When there’s a war struck country in a situation none of us could imagine for no reason whatsoever, it’s so good that people are coming together to help”.

David Bolger of Devhaus said that it was his wife Joanne’s idea originally to volunteer the business premises.

“We have friends in Gorey pl and we had been talking to them about friends that they knew on the Polish and Ukrainian border and it was just very emotional. 

“They told us the stories of the men going off to fight and Polish employers keeping their jobs and continuing to pay them so that their wives and children would get by.

“We heard about refugees arriving after walking 20 to 30 kilometres in freezing temperatures and they were injured but the people there were short of first aid kits to help. At that point they didn’t need clothing, it was all about the medical supplies. Although this may seem small what we’re doing, it’s part of a global effort to help and respond to the horror that is happening in Ukraine. It’s a real solidarity moment for everybody after we had two years of struggle with Covid.

“But we opened on Monday morning and had a steady flow of people all day dropping off bits and pieces and there’s probably €1,000 worth of stuff. People have donated wipes, gloves and bandages and we’re just delighted to be able to help out and be a drop off point”.

All the supplies will be transferred to Folkowisko Association free of charge and the groups thank you in advance for your generosity. 

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