UKRAINE: How can Waterford help?

With the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Ukraine due to the Russian invasion, the people of Waterford have been showing solidarity.

Peaceful rallies and aid efforts have been taking place locally and WLR is keeping you up to date on events as they unfold.

A number of Ukrainian people live in Waterford, and they've been speaking to Damien Tiernan about the agony of knowing family and friends back home are in such crisis. You can listen back here.

Damien also spoke to Nataliia, a medical worker on the ground in Dnipro, to give an overview of the plight of locals, describing it as "just unbearable" to see little children run towards bomb shelters.

How Can Waterford people help?

There are many ways in which people can get involved locally. A number of coffee mornings are being held on an ongoing basis. You can find out more here.

Ukrainian Nationals are organising with the support of Mayor Joe Kelly, a special delivery destined for Poland's volunteer distribution centres with the help of Greenspeed Courier Services. The Drop Off point is Unit 5, Kilcohan Industrial Complex , Waterford

Monday - Friday 5pm - 7pm

Saturday - Sunday 12pm - 4pm

Required items

Nappies - all sizes
Baby wipes
Baby Blankets
Baby Carriers
Non perishable baby food
Formula
Thermal Blankets
Disposable Tableware
Plasters
Pet Food
shampoo
Painkillers
Toothpaste
Toothbrushes
Torches
Powerbanks
Batteries
Earplugs
Yoga Mats
Soap
Cutlery
Bed Linen

Red Cross teams are on the ground supplying displaced families with food, shelter and medicines. You can make a donation to the Red Cross here.
Waterford Integration Services works with myriad organisations across the South East to help migrants and vulnerable people. You can visit their website here.
Truck-loads of goods are leaving the county, headed for the Polish-Ukraine border to deliver donations to those in need. A call is now going out for the use of a storage unit in Waterford City that could be used by those gathering items before they are shipped. More here.
A storage unit at New Ross Retail Park is also being used as a pick up and drop off point for supplies to Ukraine. More here.
With 100,000 Ukrainian people expected to arrive in Ireland in need of refuge in coming months, Waterford people are asked to consider providing accommodation for those who have been displaced. Dmitri Ostashevsky, who has been living in Waterford for 20 years, says that members of his family are currently in Poland, having fleed from Dnipro. He put out an appeal for people to help. More here.
Dungarvan and West Waterford Chamber has organised a collection point for Ukraine supplies in West Gate Industrial Estate behind the Fire Station. More here.
Maria McCann spoke to psychotherapist Colman Noctor, giving advice on speaking to your children about Ukraine. You can listen to that full interview here.
A group of gamers in East Cork have gathered together over 700 makers of video games and tabletop RPGs to create a bundle with nearly 1,000 works in it, with donations going to International Medical Corp and Voices for Children. More here.
There's also a collection point at Dunhill GAA Centre. All details here: