Ukrainian Crisis: Meet the Suffolk people supplying aid to the war-torn region
A woman whose relatives have been killed in the Russian invasion of Ukraine has spoken of her need to take action as communities pull together to help the war-torn nation.
Karolina Mazurek from Thetford, Nikki Harvey from Bury St Edmunds, Oliver Horsman from Trimley St Martin, near Felixstowe, and Vytas from Stowmarket have individually felt compelled to do something.
Each have their own very personal reasons for getting involved, but for Karolina, the Ukrainian crisis has become a very real threat for her own family.
The 24-year-old, of Polish and Ukrainian heritage, has relatives still in Kherson, Dnipro, Krivoy Rog and Muzykivka in Ukraine, who are living day by day. She has already lost two uncles and is doing everything she can for her family and those fleeing from war including translating and collecting donations.
She said: "I was very connected with my Ukrainian family and I cannot just sit here and do nothing. I am very lucky to be in the UK at this time - I'm safe and my daughter is safe. If everybody believes they can't do anything to help then the war is going to go in a bad direction. If each person per day does one good thing then the situation will get better.
"At the moment I am translating. I left my number on Polish and Ukrainian websites. If somebody has a problem with communication, I can help because I speak Polish, Russian, Ukrainian and English. There are so many Polish people on the border who are trying to help Ukrainian people in need, so I am helping them connect.
"In the UK I have opened a drop off point from my own home. I have been collecting everything, but now I have collected enough clothes. I'm collecting medicine, bandages, dry food, water, formula mix for children, nappies and sanitary products. I will then drop off all these supplies to Norwich and by the end of this week they will send them abroad.
"However, for as long as there is a war, I will continue to research for drivers and I won't stop while this is going on," she added.
Karolina has been in close contact with her family over the last few days, but some of her relatives have been caught up in the fighting.
"At this moment I have lost two uncles. My family are quite far away from the Polish border. The bridge has been destroyed and they can't get out of the town. They are safe at least because nobody can come in and nobody can get out - the problem is just with the food.
"One part of my family are sitting underground and they are just waiting.
"I have thought about joining the army in Poland but I was told it wasn't possible because I have a child," she added.
Karolina has thanked all those who have helped her efforts.
A second Suffolk resident doing all they can, is Oliver Horsman.
He has volunteered to be a co-driver and travel to the Romanian city of Suceava to deliver supplies from donations made to his niece Ali Barker's business, the Folk Café, and other drop-off points around the county.
The 42-year-old said he only decided to volunteer on Monday.
"My wife is Lithuanian so therefore our kids are half Eastern European so it's very close to home," he said. "My wife's friend who runs a logistics company between the UK and Ukraine said there are charities out there screaming for certain items they want to take into Ukraine through the Romanian borders.
"I said to him, 'I'll be your co-driver, I'll help'. I put a post out on Facebook on Monday and it's gone absolutely insane to the point that we're now looking at taking two or three vans," he added.
Oliver said that he and the driver, who wishes not to be named, will start their journey on Saturday and hope to arrive by Monday.
"I'm not really nervous, maybe I haven't thought about it too much. I'm more pleased that everyone has come together.
"The majority of the trip is reasonably safe through mainland Europe, it's just when you get nearer Romania and so on where it starts to get slightly hairier.
"My wife is pretty nervous about it, but she knows it's for the right reasons."
Oliver added that he feels he has to do something to help.
"I didn't want to just sit on my sofa watching this when we can actually help quite easily. The opportunity had come up where somebody had gone that step further to say he's driving there and all I did was say, 'I'll sit in a seat and help you.'"
Another person who has felt compelled to take action is Nikki Harvey.
She has been inundated with donations and has been busy sorting and boxing. She initially saw a post on Facebook by Dan Zenchuk, a man born in Britain to Ukrainian parents who is raising money. Nikki messaged him and he is happy to pick up items she collects.
"I realised there was not a direct collection point near Bury, and how wonderful this community is at pulling together in a crisis, I decided to become a collection point and posted my advert on multiple Facebook pages to collect donations.
"I am at home all day with my two toddlers, and suffer with anxiety and PTSD, so I wanted to do something that could also help me face my own pressures when it comes to speaking to and greeting people.
"I felt helpless watching the news and hearing the sirens and I found myself becoming emotional. I felt I have time on my hands and I need to do something to help.
"I think it’s important as a country who are in a position where we are wealthy enough to be able to help in some way that we should," she added.
Vytas, who is Lithuanian and lives and works in Stowmarket, has also been doing his bit to help, alongside Ipswich Lithuanian Group. He has been helping to deliver donations to Ipswich to then be sent off to Ukrainians crossing over into neighbouring countries.
He said: "What I'm helping to collect is going to refugee camps, not in mainland Ukraine. In my country, they have set up centres for Ukrainian refugees and what we pick up gets delivered by van to the Lithuanian community in Ipswich.
"I'm using my platform to help them. I'm not looking for money, but just want to help. We fought for freedom from the USSR - I know what they feel and I can't look on and do nothing," he added.
To donate items to Karolina, call her on: 07535055184.
To drop off supplies to Nikki email: nicolaharvey34@gmail.com
To donate in Stowmarket, drop off at Fairy's Cash for Clothes or see here.
For more information on the Ipswich Lithuanian group, see here.
Other drop-off points are:
Bury St Edmunds
The Folk Café - by 4pm on Wednesday, see here.
Croasdales Chemist will also contribute towards the Folk Café's supplies by matching their list of items. Shop at Croasdales on Wednesday and give the receipt to the the Folk Café when dropping off your donation.
Youth Centre at Moreton Hall Community Centre - see here.
A&R Containers - email: Roly@aandrgroup.co.uk or see here.
Ingham, Ixworth and Stanton, see here.
Brandon
The Green Room Boutique - call 01842813166 or see here.
Thetford
The Albion Pub - see here.
Newmarket
Cinch Storage - call: 01638 476 115 or see here.
Lavenham
The Cock Horse Inn - see here.
Haverhill
Matilda Rose Action Squad - email: jamienunn14@gmail.com or see here.
Wild Blades - March 2 between 8am and 2pm at the New Croft, Haverhill, CB90BW.
Ipswich
Castle Hill Community Centre - email: chbookings@outlook.com or see here.
To donate money, see Magdalena Chambers' Crowd Funder here.
Mildenhall
02TEEN - see here.
Lakenheath
CJ's Sandwich Bar & Café - see here.
Felixstowe
Beach Street Felixstowe and Manning's Amusements - by Thursday, see here.
