26 May 2022
We continue to provide financial support to Down Syndrome Ukraine who are providing small grants to their members and contacts in financial difficulty.
Earlier this week they sent us an update and we wanted to share part of it with you:
‘The war brings a lot of destruction and keeps people in uncertainty about their future. Every Ukrainian is now wondering whether they will be able to support their families and themselves in the future.
Therefore, we are infinitely grateful that you were able to find these resources to support our organization and the families we care for…we tend to think that it is better to support more families with small amounts.
Here is a message from Varya’s mother, who received some help: “At this difficult time, it is hard to organize a real birthday for a child because friends are far away, school is not working, and danger is hovering in the air during the air alarms, but thanks to this support, Varya herself decided to spend part of the help as a gift for her birthday…With faith in my heart and gratitude to the universe!”
And we, together with Varya’s mother, are sincerely happy for such a bright day in her life, that became even brighter as she received a real gift.’
Your donations are still making a vital difference to families in Ukraine…thank you for your continued support.
10 May 2022
We wanted to share these messages from a couple of the organisations we have been supporting in Ukraine and Poland:
From Down Syndrome Ukraine, our partner in Ukraine itself:
‘Thanks to you and other partners we were able to support more than 450 families who needed support. Not only direct financial help, but online classes and psychological support helps people to overcome obstacles, difficult living conditions and stay strong. People feel that they are not alone and that brightens their day. All that wouldn’t be possible without your support.
However, there are some updates. The economic situation in Ukraine gets worse, gas prices are drastically going up which leads to increased cost in basically all the necessities from food to clothes. Additionally, deteriorating situation doubles due to the fact that businesses are failing to find new clients, as ports in Odessa are blocked – we are unable to export what we can, therefore there are not enough jobs and the whole economy is feeling it.
Despite this situation, Ukrainians are trying to support each other, and we are not an exception.’
From JA TEŻ, one of our partners in Poland:
‘On Saturday we organized a meeting in our foundation (in one of our kindergarten rooms) for all the families that we support here in Gdansk and surrounding area…I have just uploaded photos from the meeting on our FB page:
8 month old A had a successful heart surgery last month and left the hospital on Wednesday…you can see him and his mom in the pictures (baby with yellow sleeves and grey jacket). They are under care of cardiologists and are staying at one of our families. We finally rented a flat for Ukrainian families, as there was no more places with our families. It’s a 3 room apartment in Gdansk, near the beach. Right now one family lives there (2 adults, 3 children – twin boys 12yo, one with DS, and 15yo brother) so we can still host 1 or 2 families more (depending on the size). We bought them some basic equipment (bed sheets, bed linen, towels, kitchen stuff etc) and organized a high speed internet (boys have online classes). The apartment has a 1month period of notice, which is perfect for us in this situation (usually it was required to sign agreement for 1 year in advance). It took me a lot of time to find such place here, the prices went up very much and there’s a huge demand for flats anyway, but we made it. Most of the families have already had therapy consultations with our therapists. Some of them are already signed for regular therapies in our foundation (speech and physiotherapy) and some of them will be added soon.
Of course your financial support is essential in all of this, and without it we would not be able to do so much. Once again – THANK YOU ALL for your help.’
As you can see, your donations are making a real difference…thank you again.
3 May 2002
Just a quick update on what is happening with the DSA Ukraine appeal.
We have been sending regular payments directly to Ukraine families through the Ukrainian Down Syndrome Organisation. Many of the families have run out of money because they are unable to work and some have lost everything in the bombardment leaving them totally dependent on support from others. Every month, we receive a report detailing exactly where the funds have been spent. There is no doubt that all the funds raised from our appeal are going directly Ukrainian families on the ground.
We continue to support families from Ukraine who have fled to Poland. The biggest problem in Poland now is a lack of free accommodation because so many refugees are arriving every day. Some of the children and adults with Down’s syndrome have been so traumatised by what they have seen and heard that they are find it a struggle to be able to move on. Many are in need of medical support. Our funds are helping to provide accommodation and a safe space in order to get the help that they need.
Thank you so much to everyone who has already donated…you’re making a real difference.
7 April 2022
I am delighted to tell you that we have been offered the opportunity to make a delivery of humanitarian aid to Poland by our friends at GXO Logistics.
I have been in touch with the Down’s syndrome organisations that we are working with in Poland that are supporting families in and fleeing from Ukraine and they have given me a list of supplies that they desperately need.
The list of supplies includes these special battlefield first aid supplies…does anyone know where we might be able to access some of these kits more cheaply than advertised here?
We also need nappies size 3, 4, 5 and especially 6; food that can be prepared on the go including tinned food; bed rolls; and sleeping bags.
We will be buying a lot of the goods with some of the funds that we have raised for the Ukraine appeal but all donations are welcome.
Our plan is to have the goods collected from our offices in Teddington as soon as we have enough goods to make a shipment.
A big thank you to everyone who has given to our Ukraine appeal.
Every penny that has been raised is going directly to families on the ground in Ukraine and in the surrounding countries where there are people who have fled to safety.