Mercy mission for refugees from Ukraine

Jamie Turner is making a collection at 1ClickPrint in Dinnington, before setting off on Monday with two workmates to drive to the Ukrainian border.

He explained: “I was talking to my daughter about what was going on in the news and she was saying it was miles away bit when I showed her on the map it hit me that it was only 24 hours’ drive away.

I was thinking; ‘Why am I not driving some stuff over to them?’

“Seeing the suffering of these people and realising I was able to help, it felt like a day’s drive was nothing by comparison.

“We have loads of spare clothes at 1Click and when I asked around at work two lads volunteered straight away to share the driving.

“People were asking about it and I knew the van could take 1.5 tonnes of clothing.

“I put an appeal on Facebook and was amazed by the response. We are going to be taking over a lot of really good quality, warm clothing, as well as nappies and sanitary products.

“We’ve been very lucky so far but there is still room in our van.

“All donations are gratefully received, in particular children’s clothing.

“I know we have huge problems at home but we are asking for items that are often unused and thrown away.”

The main drop-off point is accessible 24 hours a day at 1ClickPrint, Unit 4 Brooklands Way, Dinnington, and donations can also be collected.

Jamie said he and workmates Scott Taylor and Ian Fenton needed relatively little paperwork for their journey, adding: “We need the NHS app and one bit of paper for France but as we are not transporting products to sell we don’t have to worry too much about paperwork. When we get to the Polish border we will still be in Europe.”

The three colleagues hope to reach the Polish refugee camps by Tuesday night and should be back home by Thursday.

Asked why his appeal had struck such a chord, Jamie said: “I think people have been so generous because it feels very close to home. South Yorkshire has a big Ukrainian and Eastern European population so it feels more like something that’s happening to us.

The generosity has been amazing. I spoke to one woman who remembered the Prague spring of 1968 and the Russian tanks rolling in and couldn’t bear the thought of that happening again. Hearing stories like that has been really moving.”