'Amazing' response of Tesco shoppers in Dingwall moves Ukrainian refugee: 'This gives us so much hope'

A Ukrainian refugee, now living in the Highlands, has praised the generosity of shoppers of Dingwall and Easter Ross who have surpassed all her expectations in collecting a vast amount of donations for the people of her home country caught up in terrible flooding.

Asked to buy a small item of groceries or toiletries on their way round the aisles of Tesco last Saturday, the total that ended up in trolleys completely surprised organisers of the appeal, including Ukrainian national Maryna Kudriavtseva. Within just a few hours trolley after trolley was filled with donations of food, nappies, toothbrushes and cleaning products as well as supplies for the animals rescued and taken to shelters.

A charity based in Dnipro, called Wings of Ukraine, had appealed for help from the folk of Ross-shire after a huge dam exploded destroying tens of thousands of homes in the Kherson region recently and asked Maryna, who now lives in the Highlands as a refugee with her family, to see if she could help.

Her plan to hold the appeal was readily agreed to by superstore manager Stephen MacEwan and organised by community champion Michelle MacKay who have made previous successful efforts to support Ukrainians, raising almost £3000 last year.

And Ross-shire folk responded with amazing kindness and generosity, the local organisers of the appeal revealed.

“We didn’t expect anything like the amazing response we experienced at Tesco Dingwall superstore,” said Maryna.

“Thank you so very much to the generous, thoughtful people of this area and the team at Tesco who did so much for us – we couldn't have expected such a response.

“You brought us everything we asked for and more. It's hard to let you know how grateful we are... but not as grateful as the people in Kherson that Ross-shire folk have given some comfort and moral support to. It's not just about what the Ukrainians receive by way of food etc, even more important to them is to know that someone really cares - and in this case that is the kind people of the Highlands as well as Michelle and Stephen. This gives us so much hope that we are not alone in resisting this dreadful invasion.”

All the items collected at the Tesco Dingwall superstore have already started their journey to Kherson, via the charity Highlands for Ukraine which has been sending shipments of aid to the beleaguered people of the country on a regular basis since March last year.

Anyone locally who thinks they can help in any way should get in touch with Maryna at Highlands for Ukraine on info@highlands.samye.org

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