Cumbria has joined together to support people in Ukraine.
Thirty-four tonnes of donations will be transported in A.W. Jenkinson trucks from Whinfell Park near Penrith to the haulage company’s Sittingbourne depot in Kent before they will then be transported on the ferry to Calais.
From Calais, they will travel through Belgium and Germany before arriving in Poland where the items will be handed over to a charity supporting those injured or displaced by the Ukraine conflict.
“Obviously we have all seen everything on the news and we wanted to do a small thing to help,” said Teddy Stamper, 34, transport manager at A.W. Jenkinson, who lives on the outskirts of Penrith.
“Everything in the wagons is from the area – Cumbria and the south of Scotland. It is quite tricky to help, there is so much red tape and paperwork. It’s not quite as straightforward to send things across the way.
“We’ve had huge help from the Road Haulage Association and we hope to carry this on into the future – sending more aid to charities.”
The donations, which include nappies, sanitary products and food, have been collected by Krystian Klicki, the owner of Polish shops in Maryport, Kendal and Carlisle.
He has people collecting donations at a number of points across the county.
Krystian became involved when he was asked to transport three boxes to Poland.
After that, he posted on Facebook asking for donations and from there, things have taken off.
“It has been a big surprise how it is going,” said Krystian.
“People from this area are amazing. Just because I started something lots of people came forward to help.”
Originally from Poland, the war has had a strong impact on Krystian.
“The Polish border is very close. We need to help.
“You never know what will happen, whether Russia will come to my country.
“I know some Ukrainians living in my country and some people working in my country from Ukraine.
“I will keep going as much as possible until someone tells me, ‘thank you, we don’t need anymore help’.”
