09.12.2022
Another convoy for Ukraine
Another convoy of aid from the UK based but international
Plant and Hire Aid Alliance is set to leave for Ukraine on Monday with more than 15,000 wrapped gifts following its Ukraine Children’s Christmas Appeal which aims to bring a little joy to the thousands of children suffering in the ongoing war which is increasingly impacting civilians.
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The wrapping weekend
The presents have all been donated by member companies and other benefactors, while the vast majority were wrapped by 170 volunteers working in a large hall over a weekend at the end of November. The convoy consists of at least four fully loaded articulated trucks carrying 64 pallets of toys and 15 containers of clothing. They will arrive in Kosice, Eastern Slovakia, before being distributed across Ukraine with the support of Rotary International and local volunteers.
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In addition to the aid convoys the Alliance has managed to donate a wide range of emergency material and equipment, most of which has been donated. It has included mattresses and a large number of generators - helped by an American donation of 89, 2.5kVA units, which have shipped from Germany to Kosice, while one of the latest items is a makeshift ambulance.
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Loading the trucks
The founder of the Alliance Jeremy Fish of Ardent said: “We did it! 174 people attended over a 10 hour period where they wrapped 14,250 presents. It was insane! And we vastly under estimated the number of presents we had to wrap. There are so many people to thank. But special mention has to go to Carolyn Smith, Claydon High School, Tamdown, Keycraft Global, Kids Out, Orca Hygiene, Rotary Club of Bedford, the musicians who provided the live music and everyone that attended. Together with the presents from the rest of the Plant and Hire Aid Alliance we'll easily exceed 25,000 presents for Ukrainian children when our lorries leave on 12th December. Well done all. It was a humbling and at times, deeply emotional experience.”
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just some of the children who benefited
Active supporters have included Chris Todd Electrical, inspHire, Jukes Insurance, Hire Safe Solutions and GTAccess which raised more than £5,000 within the company to purchase gifts, which members of staff wrapped before sending them off to the Alliance warehouse in Ipswich.
Other members of the Alliance include:
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Not too late to contribute
If you are not already a member you can join online at
www.aid-alliance.com. And it is not quite too late to contribute to Monday’s convoy, BUT you will need to be fast.
See some of the children receiving the presents
Red
Yes indeed. An uplifting story about good people coming together to help other people in distress.
And as usual, a few HUMBUGS to throw their grubby thumbs down.
Harry Sharp
What a great story. Well done to everyone involved.