Humanitarian drive in Midhurst sends medicine, warm clothes to Ukraine
'It was incredible. Heartwarming. Friends, neighbours, and strangers helping others'
As Ukraine continues to be ravaged by war, a Midhurst association decided to do what it could to help the Ukrainian citizens.
The Midhurst Community Recreation Association (MCRA) hosted a Ukraine humanitarian drive at the Midhurst Community Hall on Sunday, Mar. 27th.
The group collected a variety of items to assist Ukraine war victims, including first aid kits, gauze, antiseptic wipes, Tylenol, and bandages. The MCRA also gathered warm clothing like sweaters, hats, and socks.
The hall was filled with volunteers sorting and organizing to get the supplies boxed up and sent over to those in the war-torn country.
Nadia De Amicis, the main coordinator for the event, told Barrie 360 they were able to pack five trucks, one open trailer, and an 18 foot enclosed trailer.
“It was incredible,” De Amicis said. “Heartwarming. Friends, neighbours, and strangers helping others.”
De Amicis also says the event collected donations that went to the Red Cross.
Hale Mahon, Chair of the MCRA, says the entire association was devastated when the news broke about the conflict in Ukraine, and the group wanted to do their part to help.
“The entire first floor of the hall was full of donations, too many to count,” said Mahon. “We ended up staying until about 8 p.m., shipping it all down to the warehouses where it was going to be shipped off to Ukraine.”
De Amicis says the group went back to the Midhurst Hall on Monday to clean up and were surprised to see that someone had delivered four more boxes of donations.
Unfortunately, the last-minute drop-offs weren’t able to be part of their shipment, but De Amicis says they were able to get them to St. John Vianney Parish Church, which was also doing a drive for Ukraine.
Even though the drive is over, St. John Vianney Parish is still taking donations this week from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., as well as Saturday and Sunday (April 2nd and 3rd) from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. They are located at 13 Baldwin Lane in Barrie.
Images via Nadia De Amicis
