Grasmere Primary School has raised more than £1100 for Unicef’s Ukraine appeal and the Choose Love appeal in Ukraine through a school bake sale on 2 and 3 March.
The primary school in Clissold has also collected donations of clothing, blankets and medical supplies which have been transported straight to Ukraine.
Getting the students involved
Nicola Sinclair, who organised the event and has two children at the school, said: “We’re horrified by the events in Ukraine. The children have watched Newsround and the conversations have been had about what we can do as a community to show our solidarity. The cake sale was one way of doing it, and the physical donations were another way of doing that. Helping people has been a very positive thing for the children.”
Sinclair received confirmation on 6 March that the donations had arrived safely in Lviv, Ukraine, via a shipment organised by students of UCL’s School of Slavonic and East European Studies.
Coming together to show solidarity
Neela Moorghen, Grasmere’s headteacher, said: “It’s been wonderful seeing the children and parents come together to make a difference for those in need. We are proud of what we have achieved so far but will continue to do more.”
Sinclair was struck by the quick response from the children and parents: “We sent out a message late one evening, and the next morning as we were walking into school, I could see all the parents with these big bags of donations – of paracetamol, bandages, plasters, first aid kits… it’s just stuff that really matters. Parents felt some sort of relief that they were able to do something.”
A little goes a long way
“Not everyone has spare money to donate but they probably have a spare jumper or coat to donate. It’s been very empowering for people to see that even if they don’t have lots, they can still help out in some way. It helps you feel less powerless.”
The charities were chosen by a student’s guardian who has parents in Kyiv.
The school hopes to be able to organise other fundraisers in the future.
See more: Paintings calling for peace to be sent to Ukraine by Hackney school
