Johnstown Navan Ukraine Appeal

In reaction to the Russian Invasion of Ukraine, Feb 2022, and moved by the appeals for worldwide support, local resident and volunteer Gillian Lindsay Doonan founded the appeal and the community rallied to support her.

Aide Requested

Liaising with Poland's largest charity Caritas via Fr Janusz, Navan, Gillian asked the charity what they needed most to cater to the thousands of Ukrainian refugees crossing the border into Poland.

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Medical Aid Needed

● Bandages

● Needles

● Oxygen Masks

● Oxygen

● Trauma Kits

● Equipment for Surgery

● Resuscitation Equipment

● Sterile Wipes

● Infusion pumps

● Traumatic wound care- stitches sutures etc

● Catheters

● Central lines

● Pain killers

● Gloves all sizes

● Blood clothing gauze

● Incontinent pads all sizes

● Refrigerated medication - diabetes

Food Aid Needed

NON PERISHABLE ONLY

● Soups

● Pastas

● Rice

● Sauces

● Tinned food

● Honey Buiscuits

● Tea Coffee

● Sugar

● Cereals and Bars

● Porridge

● Custards

Adult Aid Needed

● Coats

● Thermal Socks all sizes

● Thermal vests all sizes

● Underwear all sizes

● Scarves

● Hats

● Gloves all sizes

● Flip Flops of all sizes for standing in showers

Children's Aid Needed

● Thermal Socks all sizes

● Thermal vests all sizes

● Underwear all sizes

● Baby food

● Baby bottles

● Plastic toys, books, jigsaws, bubbles, crayons

Other Aid Needed

● Thermal Blankets

● Towels

● Batteries all sizes

● Power banks for phones

● Flash lights

● Deodorant

● Soap

● Tooth paste and tooth brushes

Volunteers

Within a few short days the social media appeal had signed up over 50 people offering their time to support the sorting and repackaging of donations.

Venue

The vacant outlet in the Johnstown Shopping Centre was offered as a temporary sorting and storage space. A team of volunteers cleared and swept away building rubble and installed temporary lighting to make the space useable.

Donations

Public donations were brought to trolleys outside Smith's SuperValu which volunteers regularly collected and sorted.

Corporate and group donations arrived by various vehicles and were taken straight into the stores.

Packaging

Dozens of volunteers loaded 33 pallets of aid onto the truck ready for departure on March 28th.

Jordan International donated a truck, driver, and fuel for the jpurney.

Delivery

Gillian flew over to meet the truck and see the unloading for herself.

Collaboration

Together with numerous volunteers from within the wider community who have donated items and their time, particular outstanding support has been provided by: