Galway digs deep for Ukrainian mercy mission

“For two days I was crying my eyes out and felt so helpless,” said the Polish national who made Ireland her home for over 20 years.

“I was bawling my eyes crying watching families part and people say goodbye and crossing the borders. Instead of feeling helpless and lost I just decided with my husband on the second evening of the war ‘we have to do something’.”

And so at 1am on Saturday, Kasia posted on Facebook appealing to the people of Galway – and Ireland – to donate goods to be transported to Poland for Ukrainians fleeing their war-torn country.

Kasia and her husband Marek set up a collection point at their Polish shop, Smakoteka, at Merlin Park off the Dublin Road in the city. Since Sunday, they have been inundated with donations – and volunteers offering to assist.

“The response was absolutely amazing and so overwhelming. We have six volunteers, and we have hundreds of boxes. We can’t take the amount of stuff in the little store that we have and so we have set-up other locations.

“It has been absolutely amazing and overwhelming. We have people calling us from all over Ireland. I can’t even describe it, it’s just amazing,” said Kasia.

On Sunday, shortly after the public appeal on social media, they had gathered a pallet and a half of products. By 3pm Monday, they had a vanload full, and expected to fill a further four or five pallets before the close of business.

“We probably have fifty, sixty, seventy people donate today alone. People are amazing,” she said.

Green Speed Express company, owned by a Polish person, agreed to deliver the goods for free. Trucks packed with donations depart today (Thursday) and next Thursday.

See full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune, on sale in shops now – or you can download the digital edition from www.connachttribune.ie