Fleet charity looking for lorry load of support

A charity set up in Fleet to help those fleeing the invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces is appealing for more support, including looking for businesses to sponsor lorry deliveries.

Boxes Of Hope was set up by Mandy Baxter at the Anglia Motel in March and has seen enormous growth to the point it’s now a central point of the relief effort for the midlands and has also collected goods from Northern Ireland.

It has a warehouse full of donated goods and opened its own shop for Ukrainian refugees to purchase goods, including kiting out 27 local youngsters with the uniforms they needed for their new schools.

It also has three lorry loads ready to head to Ukraine to provide supplies for those remaining, but is now experiencing difficulties sourcing the transport.

The charity is hoping businesses may help sponsor deliveries.

“I’m not sure if it’s due to the cost of living crisis, but it’s now much harder to get what’s needed,” said Mandy.

“We’re talking to businesses about sponsorship to help and so many of them have been brilliant. Toyota recently donated a fork lift truck.

“The local community and council have been brilliant too. It’s just moving forward it’s going to be hard.

“The feeling is it is getting worse out there,” Mandy said before this week’s escalation of Russian missiles targeting civilians in Ukraine’s major cities. “The mood with the refugees here is difficult with the realisation this is not going away soon.

“We’re just trying to do all we can for them.

“We’ve had refugees come from as far a field as Grimsby to our shop in Fleet for them.”

Boxes of Hope has also helped launch a new Good Mood Cafe in the Holbeach Hub.

The drop in sessions held in association with MIND from 10am to 12pm every Tuesday are open for all and aim to promote mental health.

“It’s not just going to be another charity thing,” Mandy said. “It’s for the whole community and people will also be able to drop off donations.”

Boxes Of Hope has posted a list of essential items it desperately needs to send to Ukraine. You can find it on the Boxes of Hope Facebook page which also has contact details for those involved.