Members of Rainhill Club have been working with other local volunteers responding to the humanitarian crisis in the Ukraine.

The whole community has come together in a wonderful response to give help to the Ukrainian refugees fleeing over the border into Poland, many of whom are arriving with little more than what they stand up in.

The public response to the plight of these people has been truly outstanding and their generosity of time, help, goods and services shows that a deep chord has been struck in their hearts to do what they can to help.

So, we spent a memorable couple of days working at the collection point in our local Millennium Centre to sort the mass of donations, many of which were brand new and obviously purchased just for this cause.

We sorted, packed and despatched medical supplies, tiny baby grows and nappies, sleeping bags and toothbrushes, toiletries, children’s clothes and toys, adult’s coats, bedding ---all separately boxed or bagged and labelled, so they can be easily given out by the volunteers away on the Polish border.

It was impossible not to think of the circumstances of the ordinary folk who would receive them, who only a week or two ago were going about their normal lives in their own homes, surrounded by family and friends.

We hope that this practical help will tell them that they still have friends around the world who care.