THOUSANDS of items donated by Darlington residents is on its way to the Polish-Ukraine border to help those who have fled the war-ravaged country.

Staff at Firthmoor Community Centre have thanked the hundreds of people involved in large scale volunteer effort which transformed the facility into one of the town’s major donation drop off points last week.

Over the course a busy week more than 300 people volunteered, working a total of 2,000 hours to help receive, manage, and package the 12 tonnes of items which have now been dispatched.

More than 150,000 items were donated and packed into 1,337 boxes before being transported from Firthmoor Community Centre to a larger storage facility at Lingfield Point, an industrial estate in the east of Darlington.

Read more: Darlington residents donate thousands of items for Ukraine

The Northern Echo: Truck driver,. Anatolii, left Darlington on Tuesday. Picture: SARAH CALDECOTT.Truck driver,. Anatolii, left Darlington on Tuesday. Picture: SARAH CALDECOTT.

Ukrainian lorry driver Anatolii Chornyi left Darlington on Tuesday after previously being stranded in the country following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

He set up residence, alongside two other countrymen, in Langley Moor, County Durham, before relocating to Darlington to assist with the donation effort.

Mother-of-three Lena Rusa, originally from Ukraine, helped launch the donation point alongside local councillors and has teamed up with Ukrainian friends from across Teesside.

Ms Rusa, who has lived in the town for 13 years, fights back tears when talking about the generosity of Darlington residents. “It’s absolutely amazing. I love the area and I feel it’s my home.

“Donations are coming from everywhere. I’m overwhelmed because I didn’t expect it to be so big.”

The Northern Echo: Thousands of donations for Ukraine were dropped off at Firthmoor Community Centre, pictured Ukrainians Oleg Skalyga, Lena Rusa, Anatoliy Chernyi and Tetyana Adams. Picture: SARAH CALDECOTTThousands of donations for Ukraine were dropped off at Firthmoor Community Centre, pictured Ukrainians Oleg Skalyga, Lena Rusa, Anatoliy Chernyi and Tetyana Adams. Picture: SARAH CALDECOTT

Read more: Darlington thanked for 'amazing' response to Ukraine donations

Councillors Steven Tait and Darrien Wright also helped organise the donation point.

Speaking to The Northern Echo last week chairman of the centre, Cllr Tait, said: “The people of Firthmoor always pull together.

“On Tuesday afternoon, things began to filter in and there was a moment I thought ‘I hope we are going to get some donations’ but since then it’s been overwhelming.”

Volunteers have now stopped accepting donations but will monitor the situation in the coming days.

“Due to the overwhelming support, we have received we have taken the decision to stop accepting donations,” a statement from Firthmoor Community Centre read.

“We will continue to monitor the situation and liaise with the contacts we have in Ukraine should we need to re start it.

“We are immensely proud of our staff, volunteers and most importantly the many thousands of people who have provided donations.”

The Northern Echo:  Cllr Darrien Wright and Chairman of the centre Cllr Steven Tait. Picture: SARAH CALDECOTT Cllr Darrien Wright and Chairman of the centre Cllr Steven Tait. Picture: SARAH CALDECOTT

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