Annan’s Newstart Recycle is continuing to send aid to war-torn Ukraine thanks to donations from the Dumfriesshire communities.
Six months on since the Russian invasion the team of volunteers, led by Tony Nisbet, have just sent off their 80th van load of donated items to help refugees.
Tony said they have every intention of carrying on and has sounded a fresh appeal for donations from residents, groups and businesses across Dumfries and Galloway for a range of goods which are urgently needed for packing at Annan’s Old Provost Mills building on Queensberry Street, ready for the next van load.
He said: “We still need many items especially toiletries, summer clothes – children’s and ladies – dog and cat food of which dried is best, as well as medication and baby food.”
Items can be dropped off at the centre, although many communities are holding their own donation points and then taking a job lot to Newstart’s premises.
Newstart had already been working in partnership for the past three years with a Glasgow-based organisation that takes its excess clothing, bedding, textiles to Ukraine, Poland, Romania and Bulgaria.
Tony and fellow Newstart director, Frankie McGowan, were honoured with British Citizen Awards at the Palace of Westminster in 2019 for voluntary working to help others at home and abroad – sometimes in excess of 50 hours per week each.
And, when the Russian invasion began six months ago, Tony was quick to contact them to ask if they needed help with the humanitarian crisis of the fleeing Ukrainians.
Armed with a list of required goods the pair mounted a social media appeal for donations and volunteers to help.
And that help is still coming in and Frankie and his team of volunteers are filling up the vans ready to take the goods to Ukraine and refugee centres there and in Poland, as well as two overpacked orphanages.
They are also grateful to Louisa Currie who has been tirelessly raising funds for Newstart through raffles and tombolas.
