Shoppers at a Lichfield supermarket are being invited to buy items to be donated to help Ukrainians fleeing the conflict in Eastern Europe.

Ukraine flag

Tesco Extra on Church Street is placing trollies in the checkout area today (7th March) for people to leave items such as instant food, breakfast cereals, baby food, painkillers, nappies, personal hygiene products and colouring books.

The collection comes as more than a million Ukrainians are believed to have fled due to the Russian attacks on cities across the country.

A spokesperson for the Tesco store in Lichfield said:

“Our thoughts are with the people affected by the Ukraine crisis and with all those impacted at such a difficult time.

“We are committed to supporting the relief efforts for those who need it.

“In store today we are inviting customers and colleagues to support us in collecting essential items for all those affected.

“If you would like to purchase any of the listed items and place them in our collection trollies.”

Tesco Extra spokesperson
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Bob
2 years ago

GIVE MONEY NOT THINGS. Collecting random amounts of things and driving them thousands of miles is not an efficient way to help. You do not know what is needed or where it is needed. You have no way of knowing if what you are donating will ever be used. Everyone collecting things is guessing and wasting time and money.

https://donation.dec.org.uk/ukraine-humanitarian-appeal
If you pay income tax your donation is increased in value by 25% by way of gift aid. Money reaches support organisations near instantly. They have people on the ground where refugees are who know what is needed where and when. They can buy supplies in bulk cheaper than you can buy them from Tesco.

“Donate money rather than supplies’ – UK emergencies boss. Money – rather than supplies – is what is most needed from the British public to help support those affected by the conflict in Ukraine, says the chief executive of the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC). Saleh Saeed told BBC Breakfast TV: “What we would advise is the things that people collect today here in the UK are not necessarily what people need tomorrow. That’s why we would urge, please donate cash through a reputable charity. Trying to transport goods from here, the UK, thousands of miles to Ukraine will take a long time and may not be necessarily what people need when it arrives.”

Source https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-europe-60532634?ns_linkname=622317cbec502b53cd480c51%26%27Donate%20money%20rather%20than%20supplies%27%20-%20UK%20emergencies%20boss%262022-03-05T09%3A54%3A08.403Z&ns_fee=0&pinned_post_locator=urn:asset:be85855b-3336-4888-be64-b3e5416647bc&pinned_post_asset_id=622317cbec502b53cd480c51

Kitty
2 years ago

I agree with Bob in that, if you can afford to donate money then that is by far the best thing todo.
But there are people for whom a cash donation isn’t possible and they want to help too. In that respect donations of things is more than justified.
What this country (govt) really needs to do is get its finger out and offer sanctuary to Ukrainian refugees without visa checks ahead of arrival. What a disgrace this govt is.

Chris
2 years ago

Plus vans loaded with supplies are being prevented from leaving the country because no-one understands the post Brexit rules.

Clare Sholl
2 years ago

@Kitty: “What this country (govt) really needs to do is get its finger out and offer sanctuary to Ukrainian refugees without visa checks ahead of arrival. What a disgrace this govt is.”

Spot on, Kitty! Trouble is, this government was voted in on an anti-immigrant, anti-refugee ticket with its much-vaunted “hostile environment” for “illegal” immigrants. Now all the decent countries are opening their doors to Ukrainian refugees, English nationalism is being shown up for the disgrace it really is. I believe this country is better than that, and it’s time the Tory Party realised it and stopped pandering to racists. Let’s show some moral backbone and welcome refugees to this country. How about it, Mr Fabricant?

ML
2 years ago

Clare well said but unfortunately the UK is a racist country

Kitty
2 years ago

Clare Sholl – what angers me most is that this govt allows the oligarchs to buy their way in here, makes one of them a Lord, (the pm goes to bunga bunga parties with that one) takes donations from them and gives them British passports.
But ordinary people, nah, they pose a risk, can’t come here.
I’m totally disgusted. Why do people put up with the tories? It’s beyond me.

ProfessorPineapple
2 years ago

Thanks to Brexit, we’re no longer shackled by the bureaucracy of EU regulations, and we’ve been able to make lightning speed decisions to enable us to welcome Ukraine refugees faster than those slow coaches in mainland Europe.

AnnS
2 years ago

At first I too thought it a good idea to donate goods but I then heard yesterday about the logistical problems of getting all these donations to where they might be needed and how long it could take so, @Bob is quite right. Donating money will be far more effective. Buy goods from Tesco? Up their profits? Are they going to transport these goods as well? Call me cynical, but think about it before you decide what to do.

Stevo
2 years ago

What on earth are you talking about “Professor Pineapple”? I don’t know where the lightning speed came from! As of yesterday ,7th March, GB had issued 50 entry visas or thereabouts-telling refugees that they had to present themselves to Paris or Brussels to get an entry visa after travelling for many days across Europe by whatever means possible, wearing the same clothes that had on when they fled .European countries, in the meantime, have issued many thousands of entry visas .This morning’s news ,8th March, said that GB had now issued 200 visas , fantastic news and great work by the UK Govt . Thanks to Brexit I understand thatsome relief goods being sent via the Channel ports are being refused entry bogged down by paper work……………..what a world we live in!

Asellus aquaticus
2 years ago

@ Stevo – just so you know, Professor Pineapple was being sarcastic. Although to be absolutely fair to you, you’d only know that from reading the Prof’s past posts!