Community comes together to help Ukrainian orphanage

At the same time they were raising vital funds for a Ukrainian orphanage.

A special ‘Ukrainian Bazaar’ was set up which featured stalls and music, and firefighters from the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service and representatives from Stockport Ukrainian Club were also on hand to throw their weight behind the fundraising effort.

The event was hosted by British Ukrainian volunteers whose families settled in Stockport after being forced to flee their war-torn homeland during the Second World War alongside families forced to seek safety from the horrific attacks over the last 12 months. The Stockport families organised and drove life saving emergency aid in trucks across to Ukraine shortly after the war started last year.

All funds raised by the community event are going towards helping a children's orphanage, which houses around 30 children, in Chenihiv, Ukraine. During the war, the children had to be rescued and the building was badly damaged so the money raised will be used to replace smashed windows and help with rebuilding the home. Funds will also be used to replace important items including reading books, curtains, carpets and bedding.

Councillor Helen Foster-Grime, Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing at Stockport Council, said: “The war in Ukraine has impacted lives right around the world. But it was fantastic to see communities right here in Stockport come together and help those that are in need working so hard to support such young victims of the war. The generous spirit of volunteers across Stockport involved in this and many other projects is a huge credit to the borough."

If you would like to help the Ukrainian orphanage, you can find out more and donate here.