A Walworth woman has sent a 300kg care package of food, toys and sweets to support approximately 50 orphans sheltering in a Ukrainian monastery.
In total, Dorota Kowalska, 38, and friends David Pond, Nick Butler and Markus Butler, have crowdfunded over £45,000 to support Ukrainian refugees in Germany, Poland and Ukraine itself.
Dorota was inspired to begin raising money when her friend Julia was forced to flee across the Polish border from Stryi, Ukraine, a fifteen-kilometer journey that took six days. Dorota said: “I was talking to her every day during her wait on the border. Every morning I’d check on her progress.
“I’ll never forget her telling me she only dreamed of a shower and a bed on day five. I read this message as I was in bed myself and I couldn’t help feeling awfully guilty in a way.”
Heart-warming footage filmed at the Monastery of Nativity in Wlodzimierz, Volodymyr, Western Ukraine, shows the smiling children receiving their goodie bags of drawing paper, toys and treats.
Dorota initially aimed to raise £1000 to support her friend when she arrived in Poland but after smashing her target, she decided to keep going.
The £45,000 raised so far has been used to pay for vital humanitarian aid, food, medical supplies and six field kitchens, all of which is prepared in Poland and driven via car across the border.
They even paid for three ambulances, one of which has been named after Dorota.
Dorota has also organised a ‘Concert for Ukraine’ which will be held at The Huntsman and Hounds Pub, a community-led Walworth boozer.
Local band Blues Shaker, will be playing groovy guitar music at the free-admission event, with all proceeds going towards the fundraising efforts.
The ‘Concert for Ukraine’ will take place on Friday 22 April at 6pm at The Huntsman and Hounds Pub, 70 Elsted Street, SE17 1QG, London, UK.
You can help Dorota and her friends support Ukrainian refugees here:
Easter Boxes for Ukranian Kids – https://www.gofundme.com/f/easter-boxes-for-ukrainian-kids?member=18594839&utm_campaign=contacts-v2-invite-to-donate&utm_medium=sms&utm_source=twilio&fbclid=IwAR0z38eV9KuGkOxwF2fNkF8Cgplv-6ovxRgNRDAqmgefSppGfRBQj2pt3i4
Emergency Medical Equipment for Humanitarian Aid – https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/medical-aid-for-ukraine?fbclid=IwAR18sipoCLvFA_SPoZn8nN4u_uR1XUBwo74l4BUDZuaF6paHBbmgumhAxgs