Stories of #GoodChange
Gifts for Ukraine
Anastasia, 25, crossed the Romania-Ukraine border in March 2022 to volunteer for Good Neighbours in Romania. Wanting to make a difference, she volunteered for the psychosocial support program supporting Ukrainian children experiencing trauma from the war.
Anastasia has witnessed first-hand the struggles of the Ukrainian community affected by the war: from trying to find employment, to being hindered by language barriers, to having difficulties accessing medical assistance, as displaced people.
With this, she is grateful for GN’s efforts in distributing food and humanitarian aid in neighbouring Romania. GN has been continuously providing emergency relief and psychosocial support (PSS), collaborating with multiple agencies to alleviate the plight of Ukrainian war refugees, including many orphans.
Donation drive
To support refugees in Ukraine, Good Neighbours Australia partnered with like-minded organisations, securing much-needed donations such as blankets, winter clothing, children’s toys and other essentials.
Big thanks to our partners Blue and Yellow Hearts, the Knitters’ Guild NSW, Kurrajong Handspun Crafts Inc. and Wrap with Love for the boxes full of toys, winter essentials, warm clothing, and blankets which will be sent to displaced Ukrainians who are currently in the care of our Good Neighbours team in Romania.
“I am thrilled to report that after several weeks of collecting donations, shopping, sorting deliveries and packing boxes, [we] took 2 car loads and one trailer full of ‘Gifts for Ukraine’ (or 35 boxes and 12 bags) to Good Neighbours Australia,” Natalka Oleksyn of Blue and Yellow Hearts shared on Facebook. Natalka organised a donation drive earlier this month which was generously supported by the Ukrainian community in Sydney.
Meanwhile, our Australian Catholic University student volunteers helped sort several hundred knitted items of kids’ clothing and apparel, which will be sent along with 2,000 hand-crafted blankets donated by our generous partner Wrap with Love.
Thanks to all our supporters for lending a hand for this wonderful Christmas gift appeal. That’s what good neighbours are for.
