Pulling Together For Ukraine

The sadness begins…

s Russia’s assault on the Ukraine began, the people of Greystones responded with donations and fundraisers.

It started with the clothes and emergency items being dropped off at Greystones Lawn Tennis Club, and it has simply grown and grown.

Soon, the Charlesland sports centre was called into action. 

A big part of the donations chain has come from the good people of Kilcoole, where the Men’s Shed have coordinated a collection that packed out three 48ft trucks.

And then there are individuals like Ann Dowling who, in memory of the son she lost suddenly 20 years ago, is raffling a new painting in order to raise fund for the Irish Red Cross and their Ukraine support work. Details here.

Oh, and Tiglin set up an ice cream cabin on the side of Rise At The Cove, run entirely by Ukrainian teenagers. Smart. And tasty.

And a shout-out to Trish Hennessy at Halfway Up The Stairs, who managed to source a few boxes of Ukrainian children’s books and promptly delivered them down to Coolnagreina. Where they were met with open arms and broad smiles…

There’s also the ongoing Ukraine Support, organised by Brigitte Tyack, which brings together the various supports for Ukrainians in the town. Included is a Tuesday and Friday coffee morning at the Hillside Evangelical Church from 10am to 12pm, for those arriving from Ukraine who might need help as they settle into their new lives. There will be a translator present, with English lessons for Ukrainians on Wednesday mornings at the church at 9.30am. More information on their Facebook page here.

Also over on ye olde Facebook, Bronagh Myers-Lake and Samantha Gammel Houston are hoovering up clothes and other essentials for those arriving from Ukraine. You can find out more right here.

Talking of clothes, sisters Coco and Fleur organised a pre-loved designer clothes sale at Greystones Lawn Tennis Club in May, whilst  Greystones Tidy Towns are going to paint the town yellow with sunflowers, in solidarity with Ukraine. There’s also the little matter of the welcoming night at The Whale on April 30th, featuring the town’s new arrivals performing alongside some local folkies. You can check that night out here.

Local businesses came together for the Mother Of All Raffles, Halfway Up The Stairs welcome colouring sheet free to collect, Jackie Bates’ origami butterfly bookmarks for The Irish Red Cross, .

And if any Ukrainians in the town need their locks tidied, Sinead down at Sin É Hair & Beauty offering free haircuts to our new neighbours. 

At Greystones United AFC, they’re offering any Ukrainian visitors between the ages of 6 and 18 free inclusion in their regular training sessions. Just email Kiersten on [email protected].

On April 2nd, Nikafit Studios hosted a 12hr Cardio fundraiser from 7am to 7pm in the mall of Meridian Point, with over 100 of their clients taking on one hour of workout each. There was also music, a bake sale and a great big raffle. Details right here.

Another big one for Greystones was Phil Flynn, Richie Murray and Joey Morrison heading out to take over the daily runs organised by Nicky Mac Manus in the Polish city of Rzeszow. Each day, a truck was loaded up with medical supplies, food and essential, and driven by the Greystones lads to the Ukrainian refugee camp at the border town of Medyka. Paying for their own flights, accommodation and food, the lads had to raise €5,000 each for those daily truckloads needed on the frontline. You can find out more here.

There was also an online auction of James Kenny’s early concept art for the Oscar-nominated, BAFTA-winning Brooklyn. Having taken place on Facebook, you can check out the give paintings here, or congratulate cinema chain mogul Graham Spurling for coughing up €500 for the lot whenever you see him.

At Sweet Boutique on Church Road, they held a charity collection  for Ukraine. “We have all been horrified at what is going on and wanted do our small bit to help out,” says owner Alan Jordan. “So we sold bags of blue and yellow bon bons out of shop – the colours of the Ukraine flag – for €3 each and all the proceeds went to UNICEF.” Update: €1,036 raised!

Jean Maher of La Nua Yoga is held a special class in aid of the Red Cross Ukraine Crisis Appeal, raising €700 (with a little help from Revolut’s doubling of donations), whilst showing a bit of street regal, the mighty Dylan E. Crampton returned to his busking roots – and spot – on Greystones main street, raising €450 for UNICEF.

Big shout-out to Wicklow Children & Young People Services Committee (Wicklow CYPSC) who came together with Bray Area Partnership and County Wicklow Partnership to launch three videos and a series of maps to help Ukrainians find their feet around Wicklow. Divided into North, South and West, this was sterling work all round. You can check it out here.

You can also check out our handy cut-out-and-keep Ukrainian-English phrase book here, and check out some Guide nonsense translated into Ukrainian by Temple Carrig TY students right here.

You can donate to the Irish Red Cross Ukraine appeal here and UNICEF’s here, and sign an Uplift petition calling on Facebook and Google to tackle propaganda on the war here.