18.12.2022 Welt am Sontag
„Now we're sending gas burners and sleeping mats“
Ihor Bobro, 45, chairman of the Ukrainian community in North Rhine-Westphalia, also collects aid over the holidays. The association has a big project: They want to use a Sprinter delivery van to deliver help directly from Essen to the Ukraine.
The association Ukrainian Municipality NRW e.V. has not existed for very long. We have been registered as an association since March, but we were already active before that: right on the day of the Russian attack on Ukraine, February 24th, we organized small demonstrations in front of the US and UK consulates. A day later we started collecting help for the Ukrainian people and military. We just had a stand at the Christmas market in Essen-Kray. We sold baked goods and handicrafts there. But we also have a big project: With a Sprinter delivery van that we want to buy, we want to deliver aid directly from Essen to the Ukraine.
We have already collected a few thousand euros for this and hope for further support from various companies, foundations and associations. We continue to collect, also in the week before Christmas. So far, many, many people have supported us. We received clothing, blankets, food and medicine. We also take care of refugees from Ukraine. We go with them to the authorities, organize psychological help, help them with social issues, help them find accommodation and get furniture.
We also have a program where we support Ukrainian soldiers who are in NRW hospitals. One is currently a patient at the "Bergmannsheil" in Bochum, and the women then provide him with specialties from the Ukrainian kitchen. Towards Christmas we have not received any more donations from outside than usual. However, our friends continue to give us very strong support, with much of the help coming from foundations. Now in winter we are mainly sending gas burners and sleeping pads to the Ukraine, which the people there urgently need.
