A BIG thank you has been expressed by Ukrainians for support given to them by Reading residents over the past few weeks.
Now, the appeal is for financial support ahead of the arrival of refugees fleeing Putin’s illegal invasion of the European country.
The Reading Ukrainian Community Centre in Sidmouth Street has been the focal point for donations of clothing, medical supplies, sanitary items, and toys. So much was donated that the centre has had to ask for people to stop giving items, and instead give cash.
On Sunday, the centre held a small thanksgiving event so that MPs, council leaders and centre members could be acknowledged for their support.
Among the attendees was Reading West MP Alok Sharma, Reading East MP Matt Rodda, Reading Borough mayor Cllr Rachel Eden, and Cllr Jason Brock and Cllr John Halsall, the council leaders for Reading and Wokingham respectively.
At the start of the gathering, there was a short time of prayer and reflection, led by Father Stan Gibziński, parish priest of Our Lady of Peace and Blessed Dominic Barberi and Catholic chaplain to the University of Reading. His prayers included moments of silence to remember those who had lost their lives.
The Ukrainian centre’s chair, Tony Gresko, then summarised the recent aid collections.
“Last week, we called out to the people of Reading to donate aid to Ukraine. We were overwhelmed by kindness and generosity,” he said.
Medical items were packed into an ambulance which left for Ukraine on Saturday, March 12, while earlier on the Sunday, the second shipment of essential clothing and goods left the centre.
“Each shipment is getting more difficult and dangerous to deliver,” Mr Gresko said. “But we are doing everything we can to track the safety of our drivers.”
And on the sheer quantity of donations, he said: “We were inundated with boxes … we weren’t expecting so much kindness. I would like to thank the public for the overwhelming support to my amazing team.”
He called for the government to do more to help the situation in Ukraine, including helping refugees, but also thanked them for the support it had given.
“I urge you both MPs, please go back and see whether NATO can protect our skies, protect our people, protect Ukrainian troops working alongside NATO,” he said, adding his gratitude that he could live in a democracy where he had free speech and could be critical of government.
Reading West MP Alok Sharma reminded people of how, when the Berlin Wall fell and the Soviet Union collapsed, people did not think that the Iron Curtain would fall again across Europe.
“Unfortunately, it is happening in front of our very eyes,” he said. “All our thoughts are with the incredibly brave and courage people of Ukraine who are facing an unimaginable situation in the face of what is a totally illegal invasion from Putin.
“We must ensure he is ultimately held to account for this.”
He added: “What is really vital is that we stand together … it is important we continue to show that solidarity, that unity of purpose, across our country and our politics.
“The one thing we have to ensure we cannot do is rest until Putin has failed … for the security of all of us.”
Reading East MP Matt Rodda said: “This is Putin’s war, it’s a war of choice, a brutal war against a country which has every right to exist, and has every right to defend itself as well.”
He added: “We stand wholeheartedly behind the Ukrainian people.”
On the donations that have been given, he thanked people and pledged to do what he could to help them get to Ukraine quickly.
“I would like to thank the centre for the work in potentially sponsoring and supporting refugees as they come here, I think that’s incredibly valuable,” he continued. “Thank you again and we will continue to support you in the very difficult weeks ahead.”
And in her speech Cllr Rachel Eden, the mayor of Reading, said an appeal would be set up in the coming days to ensure the Ukrainian Centre has the funds it needed to support.
“I know that Reading will, as we always do, stand ready to welcome people, and I know the Reading Ukrainian Community Centre will be at the heart of that.”
Reading Borough Council leader Cllr Jason Brock said: “It’s clear to me that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine has to be defended, and it must be considered inviolable.”
He thanked the volunteers at the centre for the works they had done in recent weeks, adding that Reading was lucky to have it.
“I know that for those involved in the centre, (welcoming refugees) will bring additional pressure on you .. there will be a great degree of expectation upon you, from the community locally and from refugees from Ukraine.
“The council will do whatever it can to support you in that endeavour.”
He pledged to work closely with other local councils, particularly Wokingham, “so it works as seamlessly as it possibly can, and in an entirely non-partisan way as well.”
And at the council meeting planned for Tuesday, March 22, he said there would be a motion passed by councillors that would affirm “formally that support for the Reading Ukrainian Community Centre, and also our commitment to go above and beyond whatever the legal minimum requirement is for Reading to take in terms of refugees, as we always have done.”
“We will continue to play our role as a city of sanctuary, and provide a genuine and meaningful home for the people who are seeking refuge from conflict.”
