Woman living in Poland hand-delivering aid to Ukrainian border

By Lauren Beavis via SWNS

A British woman living in Poland has been hand-delivering aid to the Ukrainian border - including vital packages sent from people back in the UK.

Faye Savage, 30, has been rallying volunteers and fundraising for the people in Ukraine to deliver critical medical equipment and household donations for "as long as we have to."

Faye has given out her home address in Poland, which is located next to Schindler's factor, and is using it as a base and a community drop-in center for residents and local people to bring aid.

British woman Faye Savage, who lives in Poland, is hand-delivering aid to the Ukrainian border. (Faye Savage via SWNS)

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She has now had to take on volunteers to assist her in the journey to the Ukrainian border, which is normally a couple of hours drive away but is expected to take a lot longer.

The group of volunteers will then carry out daily deliveries to Ukrainians in need and have been putting up posters locally for support.

Faye, who works as a digital consultant for AB inBev, has said the response and support for her fundraiser, that she started last Friday (Feb. 25) had been "absolutely incredible."

She said: "My motivation, besides the completely unacceptable nature of what is going on, is that Ukraine has a close place in my heart.

"Poland has always welcomed me and treated me as part of the community - a community which also has a large Ukrainian expat gathering.

"My two best friends are Ukrainian and I work alongside Ukraines every day, I am extremely fond of the country and have travelled there too, so wanted to return a favor.

"I was just going to ask my parents and sister to donate at first but I have been inundated since I started the whole thing, it's crazy."

Faye describes how her heart has been warmed by the "incredible support of Poland and the Polish people."

She said: "Poland has rallied together in huge support for Ukraine - people are volunteering to go and fight and there are protests happening across the country.

"Local businesses are hiring Ukrainians and supporting relocation and sponsorships and people are supporting those looking for work (both long and short term).

"Air BnBs, hotels and private home owners are also offering their properties to refugees for free."

In her "Aid for Ukraine" list of item donations, Faye has asked for everything from food, matches and cleaning products to clothing, blankets and sleeping bags.

Faye was born in Bristol Southmead hospital and grew up in Clevedon before moving to Australia when she turned 24.

She has now been living in Kraków, Poland, for five years to be with her Polish partner.

When first setting up her fundraiser, Faye admitted she thought "I was just going to get a tenner from my parents" but has since raised over 10,000 Polish złoty - which is the equivalent to almost £2,000 pounds ($2,662).

"I am fronting the donations to get aid across more quickly, whilst I await transfers to land in my bank account - several thousand collected in just a few hours," added Faye.

"This money is initially going towards medical supplies that are low at the moment and harder to obtain and because costly tend to be less donated."

For UK deliveries, Faye has recruited a volunteer in Weston-Super-Mare, Meg Hawkyard, who is collecting donations, managing enquiries and delivering collections directly to her.

Faye said: "We are attending protests to let Ukraine know that we are in solidarity and to keep the pressure on decision-makers to do everything possible to help Ukraine achieve peace as quickly as possible."

Faye is hoping to use her previous work experience in recruitment and as an estate agent for her next helping steps, which will be aimed at helping refugees when coming into Krakow gain housing and employment.

Faye is collecting critical medical supplies today (March 1) and is hoping to deliver them to the boarder or to an aid support point due to the boarder's congestion.

For money donations or delivery enquiries Faye encourages people to email her directly at [email protected]