Many of us will have been watching in horror at events unfolding in Ukraine in the past week, most feeling helpless – but some launching in to action, with one appeal raising over £5,000 in just 24 hours.

The Dog Groomery in Paulton are setting off on a journey to the Ukranian border via Romania to help animals in need. Kate Geernaert and Clint Sheppard took to Facebook in the hope of raising money and receiving donations from people in the local area. They said: ‘Please help – We are travelling to the Ukraine border to help animals in need!

‘We have decided to take a van full of animal food and aid to the Ukrainian border. We will go in convoy and in conjunction with Dogbus Transporting Paws, Saving Lives – a wonderful charity that rescues dogs and cats internationally.

‘As we know, Ukrainian people and animals are desperate and in need of help. Families are fleeing to safety with their pets and very few belongings and supplies. We will leave on Wednesday and meet our convoy at the euro tunnel to drive across Europe. One of our team’s vehicles will bravely cross into Ukraine taking in

supplies from our van.

‘Please donate to our own local ‘South West’ fundraiser – we need to fill our van and we need funds to enable us to get there. We can’t even imagine how scary this is for these people and pets right now.

‘Many of us locally have wondered how we can help, now you can. We need, large bags dry dog/cat food, medical supplies, leads,

carriers, dog coats, blankets etc, we will also take human aid, warm kids clothes, first aid kits etc.’

The appeal has gained amazing traction, raising, at the time of writing, over £17,500 and featuring on BBC Points West and Radio Bristol. Hopefully more trips can continue to be made, so please keep donating via: https://donorbox.org/dogbus/fundraiser/kate-geernaert

Paulton Councillor, Grant Johnson said: “If you can, please donate to this fantastic local initiative set up by local business, The Dog Groomery, based in Paulton, which will make sure families fleeing Ukraine with their beloved pets can get them the food they need to survive.”

“I think all of us have been shocked at the devastation being caused in Ukraine and heartbroken to see families torn from their loved ones. This is one of many aid appeals you will see, but uniquely targeted at supporting the pets that will be comforting owners as they make the most perilous journeys of their life. I will give Kate and Clint all my support with this project, and wish them the best of luck.”

A new group in the village, Paulton Stands with Ukraine, has also been set up in the past week and aims to raise £10,000 by 20th March which will be sent to the Disasters Emergency

Committee.

A ribbon making event will take place this Saturday in the Hub, 10.30 am – 12.30 pm using blue and yellow ribbon. They will then be available in local shops for sale to show your support.

Kicking off the fundraising was a prayer evening held on Friday evening at Holy Trinity Church, where an amazing £400 was donated, tipping the total over £2,000 within only 24 hours of the campaign starting. A Facebook page for the Paulton Supporting Ukraine committee has been created (search for ‘Paulton Supporting Ukraine’), posters are being put up locally, collection buckets shaken and local organisations contacted to ask for help.

The committee are also planning an event on the 20th March, 3 pm – 5pm at Paulton Village Hall, to announce the final figure that has been raised, further details to follow. And if this initial push goes well, further events could follow.

Amy Manning, former B&NES Mental Health Social Worker and Entrepreneur says: “I had a sleepless night at the beginning of last week, distressed by the news of what is going on for people in Ukraine, and at a loss about what I could do to help. We decided to set up a campaign to raise just over £10,000 for the Disasters Emergency Committee.

“Paulton has a great community spirit, and together we can do something proactive to help Ukrainian people in crisis at this awful time.”

The idea behind Paulton Supporting Ukraine’s total is that in Paulton alone there are 5,302 residents – if every resident gives £2 they believe they can raise over £10,000 together. If residents from further afield are willing and able to join in, this figure could be doubled.

If you would like to help the Paulton committee, please email: [email protected]. To donate your £2, please visit:https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/paultonwithukraineThere are many other initiatives happening locally, with the situation moving rapidly. Somervale School in Midsomer Norton has been collecting items such as toiletries, blankets, hand sanitiser, baby food and medical supplies, which was due to leave on a lorry on Wednesday this week.

B&NES Council is encouraging donations to British Red Cross and UNICEF. If people donate to the Disasters Emergency Committee, money will be matched pound for pound by the Government, up to £20m.

The Council has also written to the Government to confirm it stands ready to resettle refugees via the Government’s Humanitarian sponsorship route.