Ultimate Products, which sells Russell Hobbs under licence and owns the likes of Salter, Kleeneze, has revealed how it and founder Simon Showman are helping those affected by the crisis in Ukraine.
The Greater Manchester-headquartered group has arranged for its logistics partner, De Boer Transport, to take a lorry loaded with donations to Poland on behalf of the Ukrainian Centre Manchester, which needed help delivering items.
The donations include toiletries, blankets, teddy bears, toys and warm clothes, and have been provided by Ukrainian Centre Manchester, as well as Ultimate Products and its employees.
These efforts were arranged and coordinated by Dawn Forrest, an accounts clerk with the group.
Founder and chief executive Simon Showman has also raised over £40,000 for Rabbi Tzvi Sperber, the founding director of JRoots.
The is a non-profit organisation, which based in the UK and Israel ran educational journeys to Poland to teach people about the Holocaust before the Ukraine crisis.
Rabbi Sperber and his team have refocused JRoots’ work to aid Ukrainian refugees and those still trapped in the country.
Rabbi Sperber has been working to get women and children across the Ukrainian border and into Poland, while at the same time delivering food and medical equipment into Ukraine.
Mr Showman raised the funds in 48 hours by appealing to friends and colleagues from across the North West business community.
Ultimate Products employees also wore blue and yellow last week in support of Ukraine. Employees were asked to wear the colours of the Ukrainian flag and donate to the Disasters Emergency Committee’s (DEC) Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal.
Mr Showman said: "Like so many others, we at Ultimate Products have been watching in horror as the events in Ukraine have unfolded.
"We are desperate to help in any way that we can and are pleased to be able to use our logistical capabilities and business contacts to provide much-needed equipment and funds to those in need."
Dawn Forrest, organiser of Ultimate Products’ border donation, added: “"his all started with a simple request to my colleagues for donations to the Ukrainian humanitarian appeal.
"As I knew they would, the team at Ultimate Products stepped forward to generously provide toiletries, blankets, sanitary ware, nappies, warm clothes, and toys.
"The Ukrainian Centre needed assistance getting the donations to Poland, and our management team were more than happy to organise this element of the response.
"I would like to say a massive thank you to everyone here at Ultimate Products, and in particular the guys in the warehouse for all their help and hard work."
