Our Aid for Ukraine project started almost immediately Ukraine was invaded. Our sister church in Maidenhead was approached by an amazing Polish lady, Jolanta, who had run out of garage space for the donations she had started to collect to send to Susiec, a village on the Ukrainian/polish border which was struggling to cope with the stream of refugees fleeing Ukraine. Jolanta asked if the church could help. Maidenhead URC immediately agreed to become a collection point and to set up an Aid for Ukraine project. Christ Church URC, Marlow quickly came on board too and opened up as a second collection centre.  Jolanta and other parents at the Polish school set in motion fundraising,  collecting donations, finding a lorry which could make the journey and contacting friends in Poland who knew what was needed. Both churches started to attract support from many amazing businesses, schools, other churches, local leaders and individuals. When the stream of refugees arriving in Poland tapered off, Aid for Ukraine changed its focus in late summer 2022 from helping Ukrainians arriving in Poland to supporting Ukrainians in Ukraine.  Headed up by a very enthusiastic, energetic Polish lady, Ewa Piwko-Witkowska, a group of volunteers drives vans and cars from Tomaszow, Poland into Ukraine to take much needed supplies to villages, towns and hospitals, quite often putting themselves in danger. About 90% of the aid goes to Kherson. Aid for Ukraine works with Ewa’s group to provide what is required.  This way, it knows that what is sent is needed and useful. It also knows that the aid is going directly to people in need. 

The needs have changed over the years and logistics are always a challenge. But because of the knowledge of the situation on the ground, through Ewa and many others, we continue to provide items that are really needed at the right times. It is hard work, but continued support is still needed. We sent our 15th lorry on 3 February.