Courier going to Polish Ukraine border with supplies blown-away by people's generosity
The Mullingar courier who is travelling to the Polish Ukraine border with much needed medical supplies for the Ukrainian people says that he has been blown away by the response from the people and businesses of Westmeath.
Since Colm Smullen of Smullen Couriers announced earlier this week that he was making the long journey to Poland's border with medical supplies, he has been inundated with phone calls from the general public and local businesses looking to make donations.
Trend Technology is one of the local businesses making a generous contribution. It is not only donating supplies, as well as pallets to carry goods on, but is also sponsoring the diesel for the 5,000km plus round trip, which Colm estimates could be around €800. TEG is another local company who are doing a collection and are making a cash donation as well. He has also had calls from people looking to cover his food and other expenses during the trip.
Colm was planning to travel to Poland this weekend but is unable to do so as he couldn't get a place on the ferry due to the large number of Irish hauliers making the same trip. Now scheduled to leave Mullingar on Tuesday he said that he has been deeply touched by the response from people.
“Ciaran Clarke from the pub bought a whole load of baby bottles and sterilising machines and other stuff. There is a van load to be picked up from a place in Kinnegad. There is another van load coming in from Motor Factors in Kilbeggan.
“I am trying to do my day job but I am getting a call every five minutes from people. Even last night, John Geoghegan, president of Mullingar Chamber of Commerce, his wife's elderly relative rang me and said 'I'm up in the middle of county Meath and I've bought €300 of medical stuff can you come and collect it. Eight o'clock last night I got that from him and it's the best of stuff.”
Colm and his team of helpers, which includes members of the local Ukrainian and Polish communities, will spend the weekend sorting out the tonnes of donated goods that have accumulated in his firm's warehouse.
While all of it will make it to Ukrainian people over the next week or so, on Tuesday Colm's vehicle will be full of medical supplies, which are the most needed items in the the country at the minute.
When we first reported Colm's plan earlier this week, he was widely lauded on social media, but he is quick to deflect any praise.
“People are making you out to be a saint but what I am doing is kind of what I am doing everyday of the week, putting things together and getting things done. The amount of help that is coming in behind me is unreal,” he said.