Shoebox appeal as Macclesfield Ukrainian Aid Collection Point relocates
Macclesfield's site for donations to support Ukrainians affected by the Russian invasion has moved across town.
Macclesfield Ukrainian Aid Collection Point has moved to a new site on Turnock Street, having previously been located on Gunco Lane.
Macclesfield resident and volunteer Jeanette and Craig Rice - who are hosting a Ukrainian themselves - met with Macclesfield Nub News for the latest on our town's cause towards Ukrainian refugees and the war effort.
"Macclesfield Ukrainian Aid Collection Point supports all Ukrainians," said Jeanette.
"Be it here or in Ukraine. Right from the beginning, I've worked with every Ukrainian family that has worked in Macclesfield.
"What we noticed at the end of the summer was, a lot of families did go back, as their children wanted to go to university there.
"But we are seeing a large amount of families in recent weeks coming here again.
"The team had been thinking about moving locations for a while. Tom Jackson [who has Ukrainian family and ran a business from the previous Gunco Lane drop-off point] had been amazing letting volunteers run in and out of his welding workshop.
"So we have teamed up with One Project, who do things like soft plastic recycling in Macclesfield, and are sharing a space with them on Turnock Street. We're very grateful for them.
"Hopefully we are going to be open at the new site Thursday, Friday and Saturday. We weren't open on a Saturday before, but as many people are working or at school, we will open ton Saturday to hope to encourage more people to donate and volunteer that couldn't before.
"We've also got a family business in Bollington, who are hosting a Ukrainian too, to help us with storage.
"The Macclesfield community and volunteers have been absolutely amazing. Given what we are going through at the moment with the economic crisis, people are still going out and donating huge amounts of brand new stuff."
To coincide with the launch of the new Macclesfield aid centre, a festive shoebox appeal has been launched to give gifts to the children of Ukraine this Christmas.
"I've set the deadline for the Christmas shoeboxes to be handed in at the new Collection Point for October 29," explained Jeanette.
"That's because the weather does get pretty rough there. And also because we might be bringing a few Ukrainians with us, including the woman who is staying with us in Macclesfield.
"She hasn't been back since she came to Macclesfield in July, but might see her sister.
"We did a similar thing of delivering back-to-school boxes for kids still going to school in Ukraine.
"We filled 40 of them, and it went so well, we decided to do it for Christmas presents as well.
"In total, Macclesfield Ukrainian Aid Collection Point have been to Ukraine four times, we've also supported ambulance aid who have taken aid there for us,
"Either me or Craig have been on all of the four, sometimes together.
"We've also found a courier who keeps going back and forth for us every Friday night.
"We try to get our aid as far east [towards the fighting] as possible. That's thanks to our incredible network of contacts.
"We send lots of medical, stuff for the army, thermals, hats. So they will be getting that to our military contacts in Lviv.
"But we've decided we are going to go again ourselves, to deliver presents to children this Christmas, so we're handling the shoebox appeal."
"We originally had a target of 40 shoeboxes, but realistically we will probably get 200 which is amazing," said Craig.
"Local schools have been great and have really got involved. From Puss Bank, Upton Priory, All Hallows.
"The Brownies, Guides and Scouts are bringing shoeboxes in too. Thank you to everyone for your support.
"The fact people are still giving so much during the cost of living crisis is amazing."
"Day one after the war began we got involved at Macclesfield Ukrainian Aid Collection Point", added Jeanette.
"We used to own Gradus on Park Green, so have a lot of historical contacts that could help us get things like cardboard to hold all the donations.
"We were some of the first from Macclesfield to go to Ukraine to deliver vehicles and two transit loads of aid.
"We then linked up with charities and military there so they could collect everything, meeting down at the Polish-Ukrainian border where it was a bit quiet.
"It was fine getting there and sorting the aid out, but once we'd dropped off the vehicles and walked back to begin our journey home, it was really tough.
"There were lots of coaches there absolutely full with Ukrainians going through border control to get back on the Polish side.
"You would see families, predominantly grandma, mum and children, and they were carrying as much as they could.
"Be it sleeping bags, bags of food. But there was one teenager which really stuck with me. She was obviously an art student, she was carrying her portfolio that was important to her.
"But it was the faces. They were no tears, they were very stoic. It felt really weird.
"When we got onto the Polish side of the border and into our lift back to Krakow, all the way in the car I was just in tears.
"We felt so privileged to be able to have our passport and just travel back home. And we were just leaving all these people there, it was so emotional.
"The first trip was a difficult trip, but subsequent trips, they've not got easier but they have been different."
Jeanette, who also runs the Ukrainian guest and host community café at St. Michael's on Market Place every Saturday morning, devotes seven days a week to volunteer.
"Me and Craig volunteer every day. I am up until ten some nights, sorting out logistics," she confessed.
"We did have to try a day off last Sunday, but it didn't work out."
The shoeboxes can be packed with anything appropriate for Christmas, from small toys to toothbrushes, chocolates to crayons.
Other items which may help Ukrainian kids on the move include toiletries, wooden cutlery, hot water bottles and torches.
Just make sure you drop them off at the new Macclesfield Ukrainian Aid Collection Point site on Turnock Street, during the daytime of Thursday, Friday or Saturday.
The deadline is the evening of Saturday October 29.
The current list of food, medical and other items needed can be found on the image below.
Macclesfield Ukrainian Aid Collection Point is located on Unit 15, Turnock Street, (Off Brook Street), Macclesfield, SK11 7AP.
Macclesfield: Follow them on Facebook for more information.
If you want to sign up to the Homes for Ukraine scheme, please click here.
See Also: Macclesfield man sending 'essential' solar panels to Ukraine
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