HOPEC collecting supplies to support Ukrainian refugees in Romford

HOPEC volunteers (Credit: The Mercury Shopping Centre)

The House of Polish Community in Havering is working with orphanages and hospitals on the border of Ukraine and Poland to support refugees. 

The non-profit organisation is collecting essential supplies on level 2 of The Mercury Shopping Centre in Romford and driving them straight to the border. 

Local businesses such as Storky Baby and Children have donated warm socks and hats for infants. Romford Market traders have also worked together to buy a large supply of children’s medicine.

The group is also accepting cash donations, with Aysgarth Print Services giving funds for Polish volunteers to buy from daily updated lists sent from the hospitals and children’s homes. 

Some of the donations HOPEC has received (Credit: Mercury Mall)

Harold Hill resident Alicja runs the House of Polish Community and set up the collection. 

She said: “We are so happy that people are donating to help us, and so grateful for our community of Polish volunteers.

“I come from a small town on the East of Poland near Lithuania and already there are thousands of refugees that need help there.

“We hope we can get more donations for these people who have had their lives turned upside down.”

If you would like to donate, the group are looking for specific items that the hospitals and orphanages are in short supply of, including:

Baby food
Sanitary products
Nappies (all sizes)
Sudocrem / Nappy creams
Children’s pain killers, including children’s paracetamol / Ibuprofen (e.g. Calpol)
Baby formula
Canned food
Children specific products – e.g. children’s toothpaste & shampoo

They are also collecting small toys to bring to the children, who would have been through huge trauma on their way to safety.

Donations can be dropped off to HOPEC on level 2 of The Mercury Shopping Centre between 10am – 4pm on Tuesday – Friday’s where there will be multilingual volunteers.

If you would like to support the effort by volunteering or you would like to make a donation, please contact Alicja by emailing info@hopec.org.uk

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