Huntly rallies round with piles of donations to help Ukrainian families fleeing for their safety
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
HUNTLY swung into action on Tuesday to help Ukrainian families fleeing from the conflict in their country.
In just six hours, food, clothing, pet food, toiletries and sanitary products were donated in response to a post on the Huntly Toon Blether Facebook Page by Forgue woman Louise Gerrie
Right away people responded wanting to know where in Huntly they could drop off items.
Karen Pullen, who runs the dog grooming business in Gordon Street, stepped right in and offered her shop premises and from the moment she opened just after 10am she was inundated with donations.
Tesco, Asda, Cats Protection and teams at the vaccination clinic all pitched in with items which will be a lifeline to the families.
All appointments were re-scheduled and Karen, her daughter Hollie Dilworth and friends accepted and sorted through donated items until mid afternoon when Louise and a team of helpers started to load cars to take the items to a central collection point in Dyce.
Louise said: "People are being inundated with donations so my original plan had to be changed and I am taking the donations to an organisation in Dyce set up by a group of Polish women.
"I will volunteer with them for as long as the conflict goes on or they need my help. They have vans leaving every day.
"I just can't imagine what it must feel like for the people who have fled their homes with little more than what they stand in. The pictures we are seeing on TV are devastating and heartbreaking. The generosity of local people has been huge, we are blessed to live in such a caring community and the Toon Blether site has proved such a benefit to get the message out quickly."
When 12 year old Charlotte Speirs heard about the collection she used her pocket money to by sweets telling Louise that the children would need something to cheer them up.
Karen, who has rescued animals from all over Europe, continues to accept donations of pet food and supplies but Louise is waiting to establish from the Dyce group the items they most urgently need.
Louise explained: "The messages coming out on what is needed is changing so I am going to get specific information and will share that with The Huntly Express and Toon Bleether as soon as I have it so that we get the right items donated.
"People have been so kind but it's important that we do our best to get the items needed."
At the end of last week, about a dozen people joined in a vigil walk to the White Wood in the Bin Forest.
The wood was planted by Deveron Projects as a symbol of peace and the gathering showed solidarity for the people of Ukraine.
