Staff from South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SCAS) continue to help those most affected by the Russian invasion of Ukraine by supporting a public appeal for donations of first aid supplies, over-the-counter medicines, baby products and other specific, much-needed items.
Some of the donations received at SCAS’ Didcot base.
The Trust’s staff are carrying on working closely with Svetlana Wilson and her husband Paul, who both live in Grove, near Wantage. Svetlana is from Ukraine and still has family living in the country, and together the couple, SCAS and local businesses are helping provide an amazing amount of practical support to those affected in the country. SCAS staff involved in the appeal and humanitarian work for Ukraine are all volunteering their time, and no SCAS day-to-day operations are being affected.
Kate Ellis, Paramedic Team Leader at Didcot Resource Centre, said:
“In just over a couple of weeks, we have been able to send seven HGVs, crammed full of donations and supplies into Ukraine. They have all arrived safely in Lviv and the contents are then handed over to humanitarian groups who distribute them locally to refugees as well as take them on to the people still stuck in the more dangerous parts of the country.
“As an organisation, we strive to ensure we preserve life, promote recovery and prevent deterioration in everyone we treat daily, so it’s very satisfying that we are also now playing a part in doing this for the sick and injured in Ukraine too. Everyone in SCAS who is volunteering to help with this project should be incredibly proud of the difference they are making medically, physically and emotionally to the people of Ukraine and we will continue to work tirelessly to find ways of helping all refugees, the sick and injured.”
New collection dates for people to bring more donations for Ukraine have been announced. Members of the public are urged to come along to Boundary Park, Didcot, between 09:00 and 21:00 on Friday 1 and Saturday 2 April.
ONLY the following donations are requested during these two days:
- First aid supplies (bandages, plasters, dressings)
- Paracetamol and ibuprofen for children and adults
- Protein/energy bars
- Weetabix cereal and porridge
- UHT milk
- Bottled water
- Bottled squash
- Blankets and sleeping bags
- Adult walking/thermal socks
- Baby/child clothing
- Nappies, wipes, formula and bottles
- Camping/folding chairs
Svetlana and some of the Ukrainian HGV drivers who are taking the donations across Europe
Svetlana Wilson, added:
“My parents and friends are hiding from bombs, missiles and the relentless, aggressive military assault on my home town of Mykolaiv. Many people there have already had their lives destroyed, their homes flattened and those that can get away are fleeing along very dangerous routes with nothing.
“As a Ukrainian, I could not stand aside and do nothing; so with my husband, Paul, and the Ukrainian and Polish communities in Oxfordshire and surrounding counties, we started a campaign to collect and send donations from the very beginning of the war. This has now become a huge logistics operation, sending multiple lorries which are transporting only the essential aid requested by people in Ukraine, and we have an incredibly brave team there to distribute it to where it’s needed most.”
In addition to the team at Boundary Park who are providing their facilities for free, the appeal’s success to date would not have been possible without the support of:
- Didcot Plant Hire who have provided free use of a forklift truck
- Chilton Garden Centre who have supplied 50 pallets
- Local Asda, Lidl and Tesco stores who have donated surplus stock
- UK Atomic Energy Authority, Abingdon, who have donated large amounts of thermal clothing
- Davis Tate Estate Agents who are paying for advertising locally to raise awareness of the appeal
SCAS has also identified all its out-of-date, but still usable, medical supplies and is in the process of collecting these from all its facilities and delivering them to Boundary Park via its own logistics service on 1 April. Feedback from some of the Ukrainian lorry drivers who have delivered previous shipments to Lviv have confirmed that tourniquets, chest seals and decompression needles are amongst the most urgent medical supplies needed.
If members of the public wish to continue supporting humanitarian efforts in the Ukraine and surrounding countries, and are unable to drop off any of the requested donations at Boundary Park on 1 and 2 April, please consider making a secure, online cash donation to the local appeal here: https://www.collectionpot.com/pot/1499897/
Or to the Disaster Emergency Committee (DEC) Ukraine Appeal here: https://www.dec.org.uk/
Ends
Notes for editors:
- Members of the media are welcome to attend the collection point at Boundary Park, Didcot, between 09:00 and 21:00 on Friday 1 and Saturday 2 April. Please book via the SCAS Communications Team (details below)
- The first collection pot fundraising campaign raised over £18,000
- All the money raised by Svetlana and Paul Wilson is going towards getting the much needed humanitarian aid into the Ukraine, including into hospitals on the frontline of the conflict. This includes paying for HGV transport, fuel, customs paperwork and fees, etc.
For more information contact the communications team on 07623 957 895 or email communications@scas.nhs.uk