Hope and Aid Direct
are running lorries carrying humanitarian goods to Slovakia for onward transportation to the Ukraine as well as support refugees in Slovakia if needed. It is a
complicated logistical exercise made harder by the problems with P & O. Indeed, Charles has been offered 24 x
40’ containers by L.N.E.R who offer to rail these to Ukraine; he is possibly
going to take 4.
Miscellaneous donated items are being delivered in bulk to a location in Basildon – including nappies, baby wipes, sanitary goods, toothbrushes & paste, soap, shampoo and shower gells, sleeping bags, blankets and tins of food, etc. Supplies arrive
by lorry which need to be unloaded on to pallets – items sorted and re-boxed by
specific product – with each box to be labelled on top and all 4 sides. – as
required by Border Customs/ Security Protocols - and re-palletised..
Charles Storer of Hope & Aid Direct appealed for volunteers and was very
pleased that for the past week several members and friends of Ingatestone
Rotary have stepped up to help. With the rota managed by Noelle, Charles has had the valued assistance of helpers who unloaded, sorted
and loaded including Noelle, Nigel, Alan, Sally, Adam, Richard and daughter
Louise, Linda Ritchie, John M., Wendy, Senga & Neil. Also helping were Charles's wife, Bev plus Lucy
and Mary and some other volunteers.
A lorry, driven by Charles and his wife Bev, is scheduled to leave for Slovakia on Friday 1st April, accompanied by 2 other trucks.
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Tues 13th Sept: Hilary, Mary, Alan & Neil helped Charles load a lorry bound for Bratislava, departing on 2nd October 2022
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Wed 2nd Nov 2022: Sally, Alan & Neil helped Charles and 3 others unload about 360 empty banana boxes into new storage facility in Basildon. Then they helped sort donated items, checking food items for "Sell By date".
Sally was appointed 'Boss' for the latter task by Charles - much to Alan's humiliation! Every little bit helps..........