Hindu Mandir Glasgow: Scots rally in support of Ukrainians

Less than a week later, ­volunteers are manning a round-the-clock ­operation to deal with an astonishing 55 tonnes of items.

As many as 100 people are on site daily to sort through and package items, while a huge logistics ­operation is under way to get the aid moved to where it is needed. It is just one of hundreds of appeals which has sprung up in local communities across Scotland, with donations flooding in to help those affected by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Akshay Goenka, one of the organisers of the collection at the Glasgow Hindu temple, said: “People of ­Scotland have a massive heart. ­Scotland has always been in front when it comes to international crisis.

“The Scottish community, along with the Scottish Hindu community, thought we needed to do something to help these people – because if you look at the images and news coming back, it breaks your heart.

“It is an emotional thing to watch and hence the reason people think we need to help – and that is what we are doing. It has touched everyone.”

The appeal in Glasgow started with a Facebook page last Sunday, four days after the Russian ­invasion ­began. By the next day, 1000 ­members had signed up and mountains of ­donations of clothing, baby products, nappies, blankets and even cuddly toys began pouring in.

The first consignment of 44 ­pallets was moved on Thursday evening to a specialist warehouse in central Scotland to free up room. Now, the challenge is getting the aid to where it is needed. Goenka said the plan was to send the collection to Poland but it was not yet known when this would happen.

He added: “We are working 24/7 with international freight companies on finding those answers – at the same time, the key challenge is the customs declaration, which has ­obviously ­become a bit more ­complicated post-Brexit.

“We are working 24/7 on sorting things out as soon as possible so we can start shifting the load from the UK into Poland.”

Shauna MacKenzie started the Oban Helps Ukraine Facebook page after trying to find a place to donate.

Oban Helps Ukraine volunteer Mhairi Ross

She said: “We only just opened the doors on Tuesday for our ­collection centre and we’ve got probably over 100 boxes already. All the local ­businesses have been saying ‘just tell us what you want’. I can’t believe the response.

“With Oban being the gateway to the Isles, we have had loads of people from all the islands contacting me and saying they want to organise a donation on Coll, Lismore, Kerrera, Mull, Seal, Luing – they’re asking if we can collect stuff and bring it to Oban. I can’t believe how people just want to help.”

MacKenzie said the plan now is to take the donations to a central ­collection point, such as one which has been set up in Greenock to ­support community efforts.

She added: “When it’s an appeal like this, people really get behind it – I just keep looking at my wee girl and thinking, imagine us being in that situation. You would want other people to help.”

The logistics of getting the ­donations to where they are needed is not easy – on Thursday, in the House of Commons, SNP MP for ­Kilmarnock and Loudoun Alan Brown raised the case of constituents who organised community collections but had their lorry impounded overnight in France due to paperwork issues.

The Massive Outpouring of Love charity in Dumfries, which has been organising to help displaced people since 2015, has experience in the challenges of getting supplies to those in need.

READ MORE: 'Doesn't it smell of Ukrainian blood?': Shell buys oil from Putin's Russia

Volunteer co-ordinator Jay ­Rubinstein said Ukraine is a complex situation because it is not yet known what exactly is needed.

“We were approached by some ­volunteers who put together an ­initiative to take a truck and two vans to the area – probably Poland, maybe Moldova,” he said.

“They’ve got very well resourced, capable knowledge of how to get the stuff over there, and together with our knowledge and connections to make sure we’re sending what’s ­needed, we’re doing our best to make sure what we send is going to reach there and is what’s wanted when it does get there.”

Rubinstein said one possible ­difficulty is more items being ­collected than can be taken across – both in terms of having enough space and transport costs.

He added: “There are different ways people can help – if they’re in Dumfries and happy to do it, they can help us sort and pack.

“The other, of course, is money – it costs money to send stuff over at any time and wherever it’s going to, and Ukraine is no exception.

“Our main feeling is we’re probably going to have more donations than we can take. People are extraordinary and generous and kind.”

Major charities are urging people to donate cash as the best way to help respond to different needs on the ground in the face of a rapidly ­changing situation.

The Disasters Emergency ­Committee (DEC) in Scotland raised more than £6 million before 24 hours had passed.

Marie Hayes of the British Red Cross, chair of the appeal in Scotland, said: “Giving through the DEC is the most effective way to get the right assistance to the right people.”

An appeal by Sciaf had gathered £110,000 by Friday lunchtime, with a £500,000 donation from the Scottish Government topping it up.