‘We can’t just sit here and do nothing’
A mother and daughter from Cavan are co-ordinating a relief effort to ship supplies to a Polish refugee centres to help those fleeing war torn Ukraine. Anna Starostka and her daughter Kinga have put the call out for donations to help the Ukrainian refugees.
“I am originally from Poland, a town called Tuchów,” Kinga told the Celt. “My family moved to Ireland in 2006, so we have been here quite a while. My brother works in McCarrens with a few Ukrainians. We started this drive when we heard their stories.”
When the mother and daughter saw the first images of the Russian invasion, they knew they had to do something: “It’s not just about putting a flag on your social media profile, it’s about taking action. It’s just the right thing to do. Me and my mam were watching the news and we thought ‘we can’t just sit here and do nothing’.
“We created this fundraiser for the refugees from Ukraine in the Polish help centres. We thought it would just be Cavan, but it sky rocketed. We now have 23 points across the country at the moment we are collecting from,” Kinga said.
The list of items for the refugees is extensive: women’s, men’s and children’s clothes, personal items like shampoos, soaps, deodorants, toothbrushes, toothpaste, baby oils, powders for children. Other items like food with a long shelf life, blankets, sleeping bags, flasks, shoes and toys are also needed by those who have left their homes behind.
“We are asking people to just go through their cupboards and if they have anything that could be of help you can give it to us to send over,” she said.
“We have made contact with the aid centre for refugees in the vicinity of Rzeszów,” Kinga tells. “They will make sure the goods are distributed to the people who need them. We do not have family in Ukraine, but we have contact with people on the border who are actively trying to help.
“We hope people will be patience as we are only a mother and a daughter trying to do something. If anyone that would like to become involved or know a courier that might help, we are all ears. We need all of Ireland to mobilise together to do as much as we can,” the volunteer told.
Some of the drop off points confirmed so far are Rocklands Cavan, Tullamore, Kingscourt, Sligo, Longford, Mullingar, Tralee, Trim, Dublin and Swords. If you would like to help you can contact Anna on 087-7403702.
Meanwhile, Bishop Martin Hayes has spoke out about the Russian invasion of Ukraine. He said the effect of the war is wide ranging: “Our thoughts are with the people of Ukraine who are experiencing the terror of death and the destruction of their country. As the Coronavirus pandemic has had, and is still having its global impact, so war and the threat of war affects all of us. We pray earnestly for the people of Ukraine. We pray in particular, that minds and hearts may be turned to ways of justice and peace; values that are central to the Gospel message of Jesus Christ.”