The Hummingbird Project in Glossopdale has launched a new campaign to help the people of Ukraine.
Instead of sending over clothing and other items, the charity has contacted aid agencies in Ukraine and is directly working with them.
Hummingbirds founder Jo Gregory said: "We have been concentrating on local people and their needs. Hummingbirds began by collecting aid for Syria. Over the the last six years we have sent 60 tonnes of aid there. But now the need is in Ukraine.
"At the moment everyone is donating clothes and other items, but they’re just piling up on the border as there is an overwhelming amount. Plus there’s hundreds of tonnes of aid being stored in warehouses until it gets sorted properly and is given border clearance.
"We felt it would be beneficial to work with aid agencies in Ukraine and buy what was needed within the country so it can get quickly to where it is needed.”
The Hummingbird Project has therefore launched a cash appeal, with the money raised sent directly to the country.
Jo told us: "There’s a large network of aid agencies on social media. We found some we could work with and made verified links with aid groups in Ukraine. We are trying to raise £2,000 to help a blind institute in Kharkiv and to supply urgent medicines which we have gained customs clearance for.”
She added: "We’ve never sent anything to Ukraine before so we really had to start from scratch – finding out which agencies we can work with, what is needed and if it can be bought locally, so it be be distributed quickly to those who need it. We are hoping most of what we buy will get to those who need it within 24 hours.”
If anyone wants to contribute via PayPal, the address is hummingbirdhubs@gmail.com
The Hummingbird Project is still looking for premises to store their clothing stock which helps local people. Ideally it would be a central location within Glossop with space for clothes racks and storage so people can pick out what they need.
If you can help, contact The Hummingbird Project on the email address above.
Listen to Jo's interview with our reporter Gill Garston below...
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