Ukraine Aid Operations at Risk of Ending Without New Depot

The founders of a charity have stated that Ukraine risks losing hundreds of tonnes of crucial aid if their organization fails to secure new premises. Macclesfield Ukrainian Aid announced its impending departure from the 3,000 sq ft (278 sq m) warehouse currently utilized for storing a wide array of items, including operating theatre tables and flame-proof clothing. Anne and John Hancock affirmed that their operations could not proceed without the acquisition of a new facility. The Cheshire-based charity’s potentially last lorry shipment of aid was scheduled to depart from the depot on Saturday. Mrs Hancock commented: “When we first started people were donating toothbrushes and things like that, but now we have lots of medical equipment and hospital beds.“People and companies have been very generous and have donated things by the pallet-load.“A local businessman has very generously been letting us use half of his industrial unit, but unfortunately as he is moving out, we will also have to.” The 68-year-old individual initiated the charity following the commencement of Ukraine’s conflict with Russia in 2022. She revealed that her personal ties to the nation remained undiscovered until after her father’s passing in 1992. Although she had previously held the belief that the World War Two veteran was Polish, she subsequently learned he originated from Ukraine. Subsequently, she established communication with family members within the country, some of whom are engaged in combat against the Russians. She and Mr Hancock, aged 61, have undertaken approximately 20 visits to Ukraine, and 161 vehicles have been dispatched from their Leek, Staffordshire depot. The most recent lorry transported a six-tonne generator, which is presently supplying power to two schools in northern Ukraine. Mrs Hancock stated that the charity is seeking a new storage facility of approximately 1,500 sq ft (139 sq m), capable of accommodating articulated lorries, preferably situated in the Macclesfield or Leek vicinity. Mrs Hancock further remarked: “For us not to be able to send this aid over there would be a crying shame.”