Direct help to the Ukrainians ‍‍‍

Hello everyone,

My name is Laura Rice, and my husband, Ken Rice. We are driving to the Polish/Ukranian border leaving tomorrow (Saturday 5th March) with a huge load of supplies in our motorhome and to see if it is possible to assist in any other way to help the desperate people fleeing Ukraine.

We will be self-funding all of our own costs, and we are going over regardless of what money we raise, but any donations will directly help the Ukrainian people once we are there and will be personally distributed, assistance to anyone in need.

We have been speaking with Veterans in Action (VIA) who are also leaving in convoy just before us, they have advised us on a plan. They have updated us that the supplies now needed are:

1. Warm jackets, coats, gloves, scarves

2. Field/burn dressings

3. Medical kits for hypothermia

4. Chemical hand/foot warmers

(They do not need more clothes in general, just warm jackets, etc.)

We will be connecting with other charities when we are there, and will help wherever needed - to offer people onward transport in Poland, or even just offering our motorhome for a hot shower to someone!

We have some of the items listed above, along with a huge donation of sweets, to bring a smile to the children’s faces, even if only for a while. A company in Warsaw is able to provide us with more donations, which we can collect and distribute.

We are under no illusion, that we are only two pairs of hands and there are plenty of people who need help out there, but if we can help then that is what we’ll do.