Aid Collection For Ukrainian Refugees

Jersey's polish community is organising a collection of aid for Ukrainian refugees crossing the border into neighbouring Poland.

They are asking for clothing, bedding, sleeping bags, nappies and toiletries.

There will be a central collection point at the Old Magistrates Court at the back of the Town Hall in St Helier from Tuesday 1 March until Saturday 6 March between midday and 6pm daily.

Details of the collection have been widely shared across social media, with islanders keen to help the aid effort.

Examples of items required include hats, scarves, gloves and socks, towels, sanitary towels, toothbrushes and toothpaste, shampoos and soaps.

No cash, medicine or food can be accepted.

The Polish Consul is organising the logistics and plans to deliver the donations with drivers who do Jersey- Poland-Jērsey route for various business purposes.

Normandy Trader Freight and Charter Services has offered free shipping to France.

Magdalena Chmielewska, says the early response to the appeal has been incredible:

"The (Polish) embassy has confirmed 250,000 people have already crossed the borders.  There are 100 mile long queues at the borders with Ukraine, so we know a lot more will come - and they are children, women and elderly people.

We are no longer Polish, Romanian, local, English - we are one united Jersey community.

We are coming together to help those who need our help in the darkest moment of their life, and I would like to thank everyone - absolutely everyone  - who would like to come and help."

St Brelade Parish Hall is also acting as a collection point, as is St John Village Stores.

Shopkeeper Sarah Donati-Ford told Channel 103 she was overwhelmed by the response:

"It's just incredible. We had another 30 or 40 bags dropped off this morning. You don't expect anything less from Jersey do you? The community is just amazing!"