A Cotswold vet has been overwhelmed by the response to his Ukraine donations appeal.
Polish-born Greg Staniek is the clinical director at Bourton Vale Equine Clinic (BVEC), in Lower Slaughter, which has been collecting donations to be sent to Poland to help Ukrainian orphans.
Mr Staniek was born and raised in Poland and was in the country on the day Russia invaded neighbouring Ukraine.
He said: “I realised these people and all the other refugees coming to Poland will have nothing and need clothing, toiletries and food as well as housing.
“We put out an appeal on the practice Facebook page, including a list of items the Ukrainian people desperately need and it went viral.
“Cars kept rolling up with donations, and we received items from as far afield as Wales and Essex and the generosity of people has been amazing.”
A lorry full of donations is now on its way to Poland where Mr Staniek’s wife, Lorraine, will meet it.
The couple own a holiday home which they will use to house refugee families.
Mr Staniek added: “We wanted to make a personal connection with the Ukrainian people and do more than just send aid. Lorraine will help settle the families into our home and she will be there when the donations reach the people who need them.
“We are really hoping that we can help a group of around 80 orphans we have heard about, who walked many miles and are now in a hostel close to Skoczow.
“We have been moved by everything that is happening in Ukraine, but especially by the plight of these children, some of whom are just six years old, and who have nothing.”
Mr Staniek hopes to send regular lorries of supplies and VetPartners, the larger veterinary group BVEC is part of, has pledged to provide funding for the transportation.
BVEC’s practice manager Patricia Crichton said: “We are so grateful to our clients for their unbelievable generosity, and I am extremely proud of our team who have all pitched in.
“It is so heart-warming how people responded to our appeal and we received so many donations that every available space has been taken up, both inside the reception and in our barn.
“We hope that all of these items can make a positive difference to the lives of the Ukrainian people, who have had to leave their homes and all their possessions behind.”
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