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 a 48ft truck.

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.

Last month, Tiglin – who are housing 24 Ukrainian families in Coolnagreina on Trafalgar Road – headed to Barretstown, to see if there are ways to help those kids arriving with serious illnesses. Plus, there’s a Soup & Sandwich lunch at St Patrick’s Church on Tuesday, May 17th from 12.30pm to 2pm.

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 on Saturday, May 14th from 11am to 5pm. There’s also the little matter of their very VIP raffle, with prizes such as a spa day for two at the Powerscourt Resort and a night for two at Tinakilly Country House. Full details here.

Greystones Tidy Towns are going to paint the town yellow in solidarity with Ukraine, and they need your help. There was a pop-up sunflower seed shop in Burnaby Park on Saturday April 30th from 10am-12pm. Be there. Details here.

There’s was also the little matter of a welcoming night at The Whale on Saturday, April 30th, featuring the town’s new arrivals performing alongside some local folkies. You can check that night out here.

Oh, and did we mention the Mother Of All Raffles? Check it out here. And for the arriving Ukrainian children, Halfway Up The Stairs have a welcome colouring sheet free to collect. Oh, and Jackie Bates and her craft class have origami butterfly bookmarks down at The Happy Pear – just €5, and all proceeds are going to The Irish Red Cross.

And if any Ukrainians in the town need their locks tidied, Sinead down at Sin É Hair & Beauty in Charlesland is offering free haircuts on Monday 11th plus the 20th and 21st of April. Call 012010673 to book. More Ukrainian love here.

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 administration@guafc.ie.

On Saturday, 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 be music, a bake sale and a great big raffle. Details right here.

Another big one for Greystones is 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 is 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 are trying to raise €5,000 each for those daily truckloads needed on the frontline. You can find out more here.

Also on the fundraising front, at McCauley Pharmacy, they’re donating 5% of every purchase to the children of Ukraine, whilst Ambiance in Blacklion are donating sales from any bouquets sold. On Sunday 13th from 10am to 4pm, Greystones Car Valeting held a fundraising €10 car wash at Meridian Point (raising €1,100), whilst on Tuesday 15th at 3pm, Byrne’s Pub in Kilcoole hosted a fundraising bake sale.

There’s also Vouchers For Ukraine, where you can help get those Ukrainian families arriving in Wicklow ready to start building a new life. The vouchers, say the organisers, can be for any amount, and business owners are also invited to get on board. Both Bear Paw and The Crepe Box have already donated vouchers. For further info, call Orla on 0867302639.

Fair fecks to Margaret ‘Chuckles’ Kennedy too, for organising a collection of disability equipment and medical supplies for the people of Ukraine, including crutches, wheelchairs, splints, bandages and walking sticks. People can drop off their donations to the Brennanstown Riding Stables at Hollybrook in Kilmacanogue before 5pm.

On Sunday 13th, there was an online auction of James Kenny’s early concept art for the Oscar-nominated, BAFTA-winning Brooklyn. Having taken place on Facebook, you can find out more here, check out the give paintings here, or congratulate cinema chain mogul Graham Spurling for coughing up €500 for the lot whenever you see him.

Meanwhile, Jennifer Whitmore and Jodie Neary are working with Wicklow libraries to put together welcome packs for Ukrainian refugees arriving to Ireland, including the stocking of books in Ukrainian and Russian. As Whitmore says, libraries are a crucial point of integration for people when they first arrive in a new community. Especially when that new community is in a whole new country. When ready, the welcome packs will be handed out from the Social Democrat TD’s Greystones office on Hillside Road.

At Sweet Boutique on Church Road, they’ve got a charity collection throughout the week 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 are selling bags of blue and yellow bon bons out of shop – the colours of the Ukraine flag – for €3 each and all the proceeds will go to UNICEF. We will run it till Saturday…” Update: €1,036 raised, with the fundraiser running on…

Jean Maher of La Nua Yoga is holding a special class in aid of the Red Cross Ukraine Crisis Appeal on Saturday 5th in the main hall of St Patrick’s Church. Starting at 11am, it’s €20 for the one-hour yoga class, and refreshments will be provided afterwards. You can book your spot right here. Update: Jean raised €700 (with a little help from Revolut’s doubling of donations)

Showing a bit of street regal, the mighty Dylan E. Crampton will be returning to his busking roots – and spot – on Greystones main street, just across the road from The Bitter Lemon, this Sunday 6th. And all moolah collected in the hat will go to UNICEF, as they tackle the ever-growing Ukraine crisis. Drop by. And drop some coins. Update: €450 raised!

Boogie Bounce Greystones meanwhile will be donating all the money from their March 10th class directly to the Ukraine emergency appeals, whilst there will also be a raffle on Monday and Thursday’s classes for two €75 gifts cards to Studio LR and two 4-class passes for Boogie Bounce. Tickets are €10, and you can find out more on Facebook here and book yourself a class 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.