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MOSSEL BAY NEWS & VIDEO - The Mossel Bay Advertiser, through its Oliver Twist community project, has offered to contribute to Ukrainians via the Gift of the Givers Foundation.
The Oliver Twist Project deals in goods and not money.
Since the transport and distribution of goods to Ukraine is problematic, the community of Mossel Bay and surrounds is requested to make monetary donations directly to Gift of the Givers, should they want to offer aid to Ukrainians.
In a press release this week, Dr Imtiaz Sooliman from Gift of the Givers explains the course of action taken in Ukraine.
"The Ukraine initiative came to life at short notice through various messages we received within a few days of the invasion. The first was a South African man*, whose wife is Ukrainian that managed to escape from Kyiv when the bombing intensified.
"On 5 March we asked them [Ukranian contacts] to arrange themselves in their new place of safety and source supplies including food, baby food, diapers, sanitary pads, hygiene packs, warm clothes and essential medicines.
From purchasing at small shops, the team expanded to bigger shops and then wholesalers all to ensure availability and to save costs as prices were sky rocketing.
PHOTO GALLERY: Oliver Twist project assists Gift of the Givers in Ukraine
This has been an extremely interesting process providing training in disaster intervention at a distance to people who have zero experience in such matters but they have been beyond incredible in applying the theory practically.
"We are expanding the teams and are organising them inside the hot spots where there is no entry point for supplies and are replicating the process, finding shops, supplying the funds, identifying specific needs and supplying. When you can't get items from outside, be resourceful and find everything inside. Orphans, the elderly, ordinary people are all being assisted.
"We are funding the intervention paying for fuel and everything associated with the purchase and delivery of essential and very basic necessities. We are setting up multiple storage areas. The teams are held by the hand and guided on the approach to disasters on a daily basis."
VIDEO: Support civilians in Ukraine
How to contribute
Donations can be paid to Gift of the Givers, Standard Bank, Pietermaritzburg, Account number 052137228, Branch Code 057525, ref Ukraine. Send deposit slip to donations@giftofthegivers.org for acknowledgement.
* De Villiers Venter from Hartenbos.
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