GENEROUS Reading and Wokingham residents have donated an astonishing number of items to an emergency appeal for Ukraine, overwhelming the centre, which has an urgent need for storage space.
Now the message is give money to the emergency appeal.
Today, the Reading Ukrainian Community Centre in Sidmouth Street welcomed items including sanitary goods, clothes and toys which will be sent to refugee camps set up in the wake of Putin’s decision to invade our European neighbour.
But so much has been given, the centre has asked people to stop donating as it is full – and it needs help with storage space. Instead, the message is for medical supplies and monetary donations.
Items have been sorted and packed into boxes, as much as possible.
A number of people came down to help, including members of Thames Valley Police.
It follows on from a peace vigil held in Reading town centre yesterday, attended by the Bishop of Reading, the Rt Revd Olivia Graham.
Also attending was Reading East MP Matt Rodda, Cllr Rachel Eden the mayor of Reading, and Cllr Keith Baker, the mayor of Wokingham borough.
In Broad Street today, a number of Christians organised a pop-up stall so people could sign a petition, and also pray for Ukraine.
An emergency appeal for Ukraine has been launched by the Disasters Emergency Committee, and the Government has pledged to match fund it up to £25 million.
The Government says that this can be better than donating goods.
“Cash can be transferred quickly to areas where it is needed and individuals and aid organisations can use it to buy what is most needed. Unsolicited donations of goods, although well-meant, can obstruct supply chains and delay more urgent life-saving assistance from getting through,” is the advice on its website.
The government will also be launching a new sponsorship scheme to make sure that Ukrainians who have been forced to flee their homes have a route to safety.
The scheme will match people, charities, businesses and community groups to Ukrainians who do not have family ties to the UK.
Details will be released soon.
