Worcester charity LikeU collects Ukraine donations

LikeU, which runs a migrant support centre and community cafe, was one of the first places in Worcester to start taking donations two weeks ago.

Volunteers have since made trips to collection centres in London and Telford to drop off boxes of donations.

Earlier today it opened its doors again for people to drop-off items and to help sort through and box-up donations.

Kasia Lozinska, of LikeU, said people have been dropping donations into the centre, which is at the side of Practical Car & Van Rental in Westbury Street.

Donations for Ukraine are sorted at LikeU in Worcester

“The response has been amazing,” she said. “People from all nationalities have been coming together.

“People are coming in and asking if they can help - we’ve even had mums and kids coming in and sorting donations for us.”

LikeU started taking donations on February 26, just days after Russian troops started their invasion of Ukraine.

“At that time there weren’t many places to take the boxes so our volunteer had to drive all the way to London,” said Kasia. “Last week, a centre had opened up in Telford and this weekend we’ll be taking donations to Redditch. From there, lorries will take the donations to the Ukrainian border.”

LikeU, like other community groups and organisations that have been taking donations for Ukraine, is requesting that people bring the items that are really needed by refugees.

LikeU runs a migrant support centre and cafe in Worcester (Image: LikeU. Credit: Phil Wilkinson-Jones, Newsquest)

“The majority of people have been checking with us before donating, either through Facebook Messenger or coming in and writing it down on a bit of paper,” said Kasia.

“What we don’t want is old clothes that have been left at the bottom of a wardrobe. But we’ll take military gear, that’s like gold dust. And things like saline bags and medical aids, water bottles.”

Medicines, toiletries, nappies, baby food and sleeping bags are also on the list of items wanted.