Ukranian soldiers and war refugees living in Poland have thanked the people of East Kilbride for contributing to a massive £1million humanitarian aid effort.
In just four months, over 100 volunteers and more than 50 organisations were involved in collecting, sorting and transporting five articulated lorries carrying over 10,000 donations (45 tonnes) of vital aid to help people fleeing war-torn Ukraine.
The appeal, led by former St Bride's parish priest Fr. Rafal Sobieszuk and assisted by St Leonard's parish priest Fr. Dominic Quinn and Rev Anne Paton of the Old Parish Church, was launched for Ukranian refugees escaping Russia’s invasion to Fr Rafal's homeland in Eastern Poland.
And the mercy mission saw hero truck drivers travel over 2000 miles to deliver humanitarian aid.
Fr. Rafal also took time to make the journey home to help unload the haul of donations and see for himself the plight of refugees and the dedication of volunteers based in Poland.
Fr. Rafal told Lanarkshire Live: "In February 2022 we witnessed the beginning of another cruel and brutal war in Ukraine, which for many of us seemed unreal.
"The Russian army invaded Ukraine and every day we followed the terrifying and often inhumane scenes of this conflict.
"This was the beginning of Europe’s largest refugee crisis since World War Two with estimates of up to two million people fleeing Ukraine to seek safety in Poland.
"Many of us were moved by our sense of injustice, or conscience and people across the world including those in our community felt motivated to offer support to the Ukrainian people.
"Christian values require that in such situations of extreme need and suffering we are compelled to act."
Church leaders admitted they underestimated the power of social media and the local community's compassion and generosity, as in just a few days St Leonard's Church Hall was full of donations from across Scotland.
The first two lorries of humanitarian aid arrived at Polish Catholic charity Caritas Siedlce in March.
In April and May the third and fourth lorries filled to the brim with essential aid reached a refugee centre in Nadarzyn, with the fifth lorry arriving in June.
Along with toys and gifts and handmade drawings carrying messages of support from local primary school children, dozens of bikes and scooters donated by Rashelea Primary School in Erskine were transported from East Kilbride to delighted refugee children Warsaw.
And Ukrainian soldiers on the frontline showed their gratitude by sending pictures holding donated packs of travel socks all the way from Scotland.
In addition to aid sent to Ukraine, refugees being hosted in emergency accommodation in the East Kilbride community were signposted to access support through the appeal.
Fr. Rafal added: "The support has also extended to refugees who have escaped the war and came to settle in East Kilbride. The reality of their situation was brought home to the volunteers as they sorted and packed donations.
"A Ukrainian family appeared at the hall late one afternoon - a father, mother and two small children – one in a pram. They had little English and asked only for two things - water and nappies.
"They were supported with a variety of essentials and non-essentials and the look of joy on the faces of the children when they were given some toys gave the volunteers so much pleasure, but also a harsh reality check of the situation the refugees faces."
He went on: "In addition to the humanitarian aid donated to Ukrainian war refugees the appeal had benefits closer to home within the parish itself, and through modelling Christian values which were visible to the wider community locally and internationally."
Thanking the community of East Kilbride for their incredible support, a spokesperson for Nadarzyn Refugee Centre said: "Thank you very much for all that you've been doing and know that this has made a true difference in the lives of these people.
"We have no words to thank you for all of the things you gave us."
After seven years at the helm of St Bride's Church, Father Rafal Sobieszuk is taking a sabbatical with plans to return home to Poland to spend time with his family.
Fr Frances McGachey from Strathaven has now taken over as parish priest of St Bride's and has vowed to keep the Ukraine War Refugee Appeal running.
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