Getting the food to Ukraine.
Receiving food at The Skimmington Arms, nr Reigate (Surrey)
It’s now a way of life for me, spending most of everyday either out collecting donations, answering messages from Ukraine asking for aid, messaging back people offering food or being down in the 15ft container I have near Horsham, packing, bagging, weighing up animal aid for the war stricken animals, ready to send across when the next driver is ready to go across
I take any food, even if it’s opened kibble (that a dog may not like), a mixture of cat pouches (as we all know our cats change their preferences so often), any vet medication (as long as within 6 months if it’s expiry date) and aid for any animal, horse, donkey, goat, rabbit, they all need food
I’ve done two drop off collections at a big pub car park near Reigate, Surrey - The Skimmington Arms
Both have brought in a good amount of aid
The power of a few Facebook messages saying where I’ll be and at what time, come rain or shine, brought in lots of people
The first was two years to the day the war broke out in Ukraine (24/2/2024)
Nick and I went along, not knowing if anyone would come along to show there support
We were amazed and delighted with so many people turning up, bringing aid with them
At the end of the collection, a friend brought her campervan over as both Nick and my car were full to bursting
It was a very successful morning, so we did another one in July 2024, again with a great amount of support and 2 huge car loads to take back to the container
To keep feeding and helping the animals, collections like this, along with Facebook posts, asking people to help, spread the word, use our Amazon wish list (all of which comes directly to me for sending out), needs to grow to more areas and have new people helping us, to help be the voice for these innocent animals
The thank you’s and photos I receive directly from Ukraine, when the aid has arrived, makes all this volunteering so worthwhile, to know tummies and being filled
There is so much more to tell you, maybe I’ll do this another time or in person, if you’d like to become ‘a me’, but in a different part of the county to me (I’d happily help and guide you)
We maybe a very small team but our hearts are with Ukraine and its animals, and this will not change
Written by Rebecca.