Colm to deliver more medical supplies to Ukraine border

It’s almost impossible to comprehend the sheer volume of people displaced by the Ukrainian conflict who need transport – but seeing three hundred buses in Warsaw loading up with refugees from Ukraine was one sight that struck Mullingar man Colm Smullen as he made his way back to Ireland two weeks ago after delivering a van rammed full of medical supplies to a small village on the Polish-Ukrainian border.

Preparing already to repeat the almost 4,600km round trip this weekend, Colm says that what he has been told is most urgently needed is more medical equipment and supplies.

It was through reading of the various efforts under way locally to collect for Ukraine that professional courier Colm got involved in the effort to help – firstly by donating the use of warehouse space so items could be sorted for dispatch, and then by getting the items collected transported from Mullingar to Poland.

“They had been bringing black bags of donations to houses and trying to sort it there – you can’t send it out without having to repacked and sorted into boxes of food and of medicines or whatever,” says Colm.

Schools, businesses and individuals all started donating more and more items, and then collections that had been happening through the efforts of Kilbeggan Motor Factors, and collections from places locations such as Killucan, Rochfortbridge and Ballymore were added to the mix.

“Then the chemists got involved taking donations and turning them into medical supplies,” says Colm, listing as many names as he can remember, but worrying then that he is leaving some names out.

“That saw all the medical stuff grow and then Natalie Glennon, who is from Ukraine and married to a fellow in Ballinalack, was doing collections everywhere and anywhere, from nurses and people who work in hospitals who were able to get their hands on medical supplies, and near enough, between all the chemists and all the people who brought stuff, overall we had got to a full vanload.

“We guesstimate it was worth about 120 grand.

“But that’s just the medical items – we had all the other stuff as well and I got another truck driver – Norman Weir from Gaybrook – to bring them to a warehouse on the Naas Road belonging to Harris Trucks, where everything is being put on trucks for shipping to Poland,” says Colm, adding that he understands that 100 pallets of donations a day are being shipped from Ireland: “That’s general aid – everything from dog food to medical stuff and clothes.”

Colm and his brother Trevor left Ireland the Tuesday before St Patrick’s week, to begin the long journey eastwards: “We basically drove to Rosslare and got the boat at 12 o’clock that Tuesday night and 24 hours later we got off the ferry at Dunkirk after very little sleep and we started driving through France, Germany, Holland.”

At 9.30 that night, they reached their destination.

“We were originally going to the capital – Warsaw: all the trucks go to the capital because there are a couple of aid depots there,” says Colm.

However, lots of small towns and villages right on the border are dealing daily with refugees who have just escaped from Ukraine and were in immediate need.

“So I sent a Facebook message to a Polish girl in Cavan who was collecting up stuff to ask where she thought we should go, and she said: ‘If you don’t mind doing an extra four hours’ drive, could you come to my home village – Tuchów - 50kms from the border with Ukraine’.

“She then said: ‘I’m actually here at the minute’.

“Herself and her two daughters had flown over the day before.”

That meant Colm and Trevor had a definite destination, and when they arrived, the local fire crew was awaiting for them and ready to unload the stock.

“The volunteers unloaded the van in half an hour; then they opened up the pub to get us something to eat and they got some woman to put us up for the night, and then next morning after breakfast we met the mayor.”

Through a translator they were told the items they had sent over were badly needed at the local hospital, which was desperately short of supplies.

The ferry trips and the seven full tanks of diesel meant mammoth journey cost over €2,000, all of which was met from donations. Trend Technology sponsored all the diesel, and the ferry costs came from other donors.

Happily donations of supplies are still coming in: the day after St Patrick’s Day alone, seven pallets of donations were sent up from Galway. Everything goes to the warehouse and it is all being readied for dispatch to Poland.

“After sorting it over St Patrick’s weekend, I have ended up with another van load of medical supplies and we have 40 pallets of other stuff – and there’s more coming in.”

The non-medical items will be delivered to the Harris depot in Dublin.

Colm reckons that the clothes collected are probably not needed in Poland - but that they will be needed by the refugees who arrive here. He is looking into the possibility – as is being done in Dublin – of setting up a free ‘shop’, where Ukrainians who arrive in this area will be able to choose clothes, once they show their passports.

Colm’s getting ready for this weekend’s return journey: “I’m actually going out this time with no co-pilot, because the reason is, I’m bringing two people back with me,” he says, explaining that the two women he is bringing have been unable to secure flights to Ireland.

Colm admits that he has been hugely impressed at the levels of generosity he has witnessed locally. Last week, he got to deliver a load of buggies to the reception centre at Dublin Airport, which is the first port of call for Ukrainians arriving in this country: from what he has seen, a lot of the arrivals are young parents with children.

Other examples are a furniture shop in Longford is giving €500 towards the cost of diesel for this week’s trip: “I have had other calls from random business around town and from other people Revoluting me money for the travel costs,” he says, adding that special thanks are due to Whelehans Pharmacy, Mullingar, Lloyd’s Pharmacy, McDaid’s Bellview, Trend Technology, TEG, Signs Express, Gerry Reddin, Lakeland Interiors, Daly’s Carwash, David Smith Catering, Sarah Jane Murphy, Fagan Office Supplies and Kilbeggan Auto Factors.

If anyone has anything to donate, contact Colm by phone on 086 8615973.