Ukraine supplies come in from near … and far

Published Monday, 14th March 2022

As donations of vital supplies for Ukraine continue to flow into Hartlepool Borough Council collection points as part of wider town collections, staff have been bowled over to receive a bumper delivery including items from as far afield as Huddersfield!

The donation – which included first aid supplies, blankets, duvets and sleeping bags - was made to Community Hub Central by staff from recycling and resource management company Suez.

• Some of the supplies donated by the Suez employees and management.

Some of the supplies donated by the Suez employees and management

It was the idea of Emma Short, Office Manager at Suez Tees Valley, who not only organised a collection at the company’s Billingham premises where she works but also put out an appeal at its Huddersfield site.

Kind-hearted colleagues and their families were quick to respond, and the company itself added its weight to the appeal by donating first aid supplies from its own stock.

Emma, who was born in Hartlepool and lives in Billingham, said: “All the Suez staff are following the events in Ukraine very closely. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Ukrainian people and everyone wants to do whatever they can to help.

“As well as thanking my colleagues in Billingham and Huddersfield, I would also like to say a big thank you to Suez for allowing me to include in the donation first aid supplies from the company’s own existing stock.”

• Emma Short, Office Manager at Suez Tees Valley (right), with Maintenance Technician colleagues Joe Wilson (left) and Richard Roberts during the delivery to Community Hub Central.

Emma Short, Office Manager at Suez Tees Valley (right), with Maintenance Technician colleagues Joe Wilson (left) and Richard Roberts during the delivery to Community Hub Central

Councillor Shane Moore, Leader of Hartlepool Borough Council, said: “This fantastic donation from Emma and her colleagues at Suez typifies the amazing response of people in Hartlepool, the Tees Valley and across the country to the appalling events in Ukraine.

“We stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the Ukrainian people and here at the Council we’re pleased to be able to play our part by accepting collections at our designated buildings.

“Thank you to everyone who has donated items so far – it is truly inspiring and deeply moving.”

In Hartlepool, a collaboration of voluntary and community sector organisations including Something Positive Solutions, Hogg Global Logistics Limited and Hartlepower are collecting donations.

To support these efforts, Hartlepool Borough Council is operating a number of collection points.

As with other collections across the Borough, the Council is appealing for first aid goods, bandages, plasters, eye washes and sterile wipes as well as good condition blankets, sleeping bags and quilts. We would ask residents to please not donate items of clothing.

The Council collection points and opening times are:

Community Hub Central, York Road – Monday to Friday 10am to 4pm.

Community Hub South, Wynyard Road – Monday to Friday 10am to 4pm and Saturday 10am to 12 noon.

Centre for Excellence in Creative Arts (CECA), King Oswy Drive – Monday to Friday 9am to 3:30pm.

Headland Library, Middlegate – Monday and Friday 10am to 4pm.

Seaton Carew Library, Station Lane – Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 10am to 4pm and Saturday 10am to 12 noon.