An appeal to help the people of Ukraine is underway in Selby.
It has been launched by a resident whose Ukrainian mother is still in the country now under attack by Vladimir Putin’s Russian forces.
Margarita Poluboczek is from Lithuania, but her mother and other members of the family are from Ukraine. They know how much the people are suffering which is why they want to help get essential supplies out there as quickly as possible.
And donations are pouring in at The Big Store in Selby town centre.
Margarita told Victoria Charles from YorkMix Radio: “We don’t know what’s happened, we don’t know if they are all still alive. Have they had a chance to get away? Have they found shelter?”
Her voice breaks off at this point as talking about her relatives is very difficult. Margarita feels scared and helpless too.
“It’s so upsetting, every news item, every bit of social media video. It just brings tears in my eyes. It’s very difficult.”
The one thing she can do is organise collections of goods and money to send to Ukraine.
“We want to collect some essential clothing and supplies like shower gels and plasters as well as food that will travel like pasta,” says Margarita.
If you can help, your donation would be welcome at The Big Store.
The Selby effort is part of a wider collection across Yorkshire being organised by members of the Polish Community in Leeds.
A van will arrive on Thursday to collect it all and take it to the Poland/Ukraine border.
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