DONATIONS made by the Basingstoke community for people in Ukraine are on their way to Poland thanks to the efforts of volunteers.

Hundreds of people in the town responded to an appeal for items to be donated for Ukrainians who have fled their country.

Read more: Basingstoke community project saving tonnes of items from going to landfill

An army of volunteers have given their time to sort and pack all the donations, which were stored at Beechdown Health and Fitness Club.

A team arrived at Hatch Warren Community Centre on Monday to pack dozens of boxes into a van.

The driver then delivered the life-saving packages to Absolutely Offices in Chineham before they were taken on to Poland, which has welcomed more than two million Ukrainian refugees since the war started.

Judith Morrow, from Kingsclere, who helped coordinate the donations, said: “We were totally inundated. I didn’t know which way to turn there was so much stuff coming in.

"We set up a team of volunteers but it was evident immediately it wasn’t enough so we pulled people from all over the place. We were constantly sifting and packing and sorting. We couldn’t have done it without everyone’s help.”

Judith, a 63-year-old grandmother who works part time as an accountant added: “We couldn’t have done it without the generosity of people and those at Beechdown.

"We had people turn up with a small amount of stuff and they would be in tears that it wasn’t enough but it was a tsunami of trickles of little amounts which all added up. It was an emotional rollercoaster and we were all crying.”

Around 30 volunteers helped sort all the donations which included sleeping bags, sanitary items, blankets, nappies, dummies, and baby food.

Stacy Hart, Women's Equality Party election candidate for Hatch Warren and Beggarwood, helped pack boxes into the van at Hatch Warren Community Centre.

She said: "At a time when a lot of people feel hopeless and apathetic in the face of negative news, it's amazing to see the community come together to make positive change.

"Together, we can make our communities and our world better by deciding to step up and change it. From everyone that donated to those that volunteered and the brilliant organisers, the community really showed up for those fleeing the atrocities in Ukraine."

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