Residents have turned out in force in a “phenomenal” response to a donation drive for Ukraine in Welshpool.

In just three hours on March 2, thousands of items were donated by individuals and local businesses to support those fleeing the conflict in Ukraine.

The collection was organised by the local Polish community who used Welshpool’s Masonic Hall as a drop-off point for donations.

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Helping the local Polish Community manage the collection was former local headteacher Graeme Harkness who said: “Its been a truly heart warming couple of days, the support from the people of Welshpool has been fantastic.”

Mr Harkness became involved in the project when several of his friends in the Polish community voiced a need to organise an effort to support the people of Ukraine in the wake of Vladimir Putin’s invasion. 

County Times: 150 sleeping bags were donated

He said: “I have a few Polish friends who wanted to do a collection but were unsure of how or where to stage a massive collection, so I went about acquiring a room at Masonic Hall and helped contact some people via social media.

“The response was phenomenal as we were absolutely flooded with donations from people wanting to offer anything they could to help.

“I cannot thank each and every person who helped or turned up with the largest or smallest parcel, I know the local Polish Community here are deeply thankful and cannot believe the outpouring of support.”

Approximately 70 per cent of the donated items were brand new, having been bought and donated by residents that morning or donated by the shops themselves.

County Times: Masonic Hall was used as a drop off point for donations

Items included medical supplies, toiletries, clothes and 150 sleeping bags.

Three lorries were filled and left on Wednesday, followed by a 40 ft container on Thursday.

Items were also donated from residents in Newtown and Caersws, with the Polish Integration Support Centre describing the response throughout mid-Wales as “astronomical”.

Graham added: “Thanks go to everyone but particularly to two local companies, T Alun Jones Ltd and Becky & Chris Lloyd and staff at Charlies who both managed the logistical side of the collection in offering vans, lorries and teams of people to help pack and unpack the items at very short notice.

County Times: A 4 ft container was filled with essential items

“I also want to send a special thank you to Erin, one of T Alun Jones’ drivers, who spent her 21st birthday transporting the donated items from Welshpool, she went not just the extra mile but well beyond.”

“I would also like to thank the local Masonic community who threw open their doors and allowed us access to use their building over the two days.”