Nearly €100k donated in a day

The people of Douglas have donated three full buses worth of aid to the people of Ukraine.

More than 10,000 items were donated, valued at €90,000 as part of the drive which took place on just one day, last Saturday 5 March at Douglas Court Shopping Centre.

Bus Éireann has thanked the people of Cork for their generosity. A team of 30 volunteers facilitated the donation drive. Items received included baby, medical and sanitary items.

Corporate donations were also received locally from McDonalds, Dunnes Stores, Costa Coffee, Apache Pizza, SuperValu, Aldi and Irish Rail.

“We in Bus Éireann would like to thank the people of Cork for their generosity in donating over 10,000 items to the people fleeing the war in Ukraine, and taking time on a busy Saturday to drop the goods off,’’ said Aled Williams, Bus Éireann Senior Operations Manager, South.

‘‘In total, three buses were filled and we received donations from people young and old, across Cork city and county. We always have a fantastic response to our Fill a Bus campaigns for Cork Penny Dinners and it is wonderful to see that same commitment and compassion extending all the way across Europe.’’

Later this week, two articulated trucks will be loaded with all of the donations. These vehicles will depart for the Polish/Ukrainian border via France and Germany on Tuesday 15 March driven by two volunteer drivers, one of whom is a current Bus Éireann employee. They are coordinating with the existing charity the Chernobyl Orphans Foundation.