Meet the heroes behind the Macclesfield Ukrainian Aid Collection Point.

The Gunco Lane good cause to support the Ukrainian war effort has been working non-stop for weeks now.

The items donated have been a vast range.

Food, blankets and toilet rolls have been some of the most donated items.

A huge donation of tinned food stands tall on the ground floor of this two-floor operation.

But there have also been more out-of-the-box thinking items donated, including generators and playing cards.

They are pushing 50 dedicated volunteers at the Macclesfield site.

This includes a local family who are having sleepless nights with relatives of their own in the under-threat Eastern European country.

Macclesfield resident Anne Hancock has family in Ukraine, and has set up an aid collection in a unit once used by her son's business.

While the initial donations were clothes for fleeing Ukrainians who left their homes in a hurry, medical supplies are now urgently needed for those injured from the invasion.

"The supplies from Macclesfield will make multiple drops across the along the Ukraine Romanian and Polish borders, and they do go into Ukraine as well," said Anne.

"From the first few trucks the feedback is they have been really grateful but they actually need much more medical stuff."

"[This is] because they have a lot of injuries and want to direct more stuff to the hospitals," said Anne.

"It is nice to support the civilians but we have to support the soldiers as well.

Sat navs will take you to the wrong place. So here is what the unit looks like.

"The crux of this is to stop the fighting and end the war. They are not brilliantly equipped. And they desperately need night vision.

"Financial donations to Ukraine Aid Manchester will directly go to help solving this problem."

A recent recruit is mum-of-one Elena, who came over from Lviv at the start of the month to be with her husband in England.

Coincidentally, Anne's has some female relatives are also from Lviv, who have fled with their kids to Italy.

Items will directly support Ukrainian refugees and the war effort.

Anne's Macclesfield-based children, Tom Jackson and Jenny Hancock are also helping co-ordinate the donation point. The latter has the extra position of running their social media presence.

In an emotional Facebook post this morning, Macclesfield Ukrainian Aid Collection Point said: "We want to thank everyone who has donated, volunteered or taken the time to share our posts.

"This just wouldn't be possible without you amazing people."

Three weeks ago on Thursday February 24, Russia invaded Ukraine. Just days later, the Macclesfield donation point was up and ready to go.

Their next truck will pick-up on the one month anniversary of the invasion.

Items will directly support Ukrainian refugees and the war effort.

The next HGV will be arriving to them on Thursday March 24, and they need to get it filled.

The good cause hopes the people of Macclesfield can rally together before that date to help ensure the truck is filled with these key - potentially life-saving - items.

If you're stuck on what to donate, medical supplies and euro pallets (to help distribute the items into trucks) are urgently required.

The full list of items the Macclesfield Ukrainian Aid Collection Point needs is as follows:

If you would prefer to donate money instead of something physical, the Macclesfield site recommends sending funds to Ukraine Aid Manchester, which is also where the Macc item donations go to before heading for the continent.

Non-perishable food e.g dry processed or canned food

Tableware and cutlery (reusable and disposable)

Ready meals (dry)

Energy bars/protein bars

Dried fruits

Nuts

Tinned food

Instant rice / porridge etc

Water

Sweets

Coffee

Powdered Milk

Essential Items

Thermal blankets

Sleeping bags

Sleeping mats

Toothpaste

Toothbrushes

Nappies (adult and child)

Nappy cream

Wipes

Sanitary pads

Underwear (adults and children)

Battery / wind up torches

Solar phone chargers

Batteries

Pet food

Soap

Shampoo

Conditioner

Road flares

Safety Pins

Binoculars

Camping Mugs

Back packs

Bin bags

Anne - who can speak Ukrainian - stocks some toiletries. Menstrual products and toilet roll have been donated in droves.

Medical Items

First Aid Kits

Bandages/medical tape

Scissors

Antiseptic wipes

Antiseptic Alcohol

Mask (Disposable and Reusable)

Syringes with needles (different volumes)

Saline

Eye patches

Splints

Crutches/support canes

Oral dehydration suspension

Imodium

Knee supports

Wrist Guards

Rock Tape

Duct Tape

Pain relief - including infant pain relief

Medical gowns

Anti-fungal powder

Neck braces Unfortunately, due to the generosity of Macclesfield, clothes donations are no longer being taken.

The address for drop-offs is Unit 2C Sutton Mill, Gunco Lane, Macclesfield SK11 7JL.

You can message here to volunteer. You can also donate money from their chosen cause via this link. 

Co-organiser and Macclesfield resident Anne (who is half-Ukrainian) poses with Elena who is a Ukrainian now living in Manchester.

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