There are numerous appeals going on up and down the country and locally too. Here is an update on some of the wonderful things happening in Billericay.

Last week I spoke to Caroline Stillwell who was involved in Ramsden Bellhouse Baptist Church’s appeal. Caroline gave me this update –

Hiya Bob I thought I’d send you some photos of our Ukraine appeal We had hundreds of boxes we had a huge response We filled 2 large vans and 6 cars.

Steve from Boxers Barbers in Wickford is going to Ukraine Thursday with 7 trucks it will take 6 days. One of the guys who came to help and whose van we loaded decided when he met Steve he would go to Ukraine with them! I’m going to wait until Steve and crew get back then we can see what is needed there and will start again.

Gail Carpenter has also been helping. Gail said –

Collecting again today here are some of the 125 teddies for tragedies donated by a lady in the village.

Caroline and Gail with some of the teddies!

And later – I have just collected another 90 from her!

Phil Bradley of Billericay Dogs has been running an appeal locally to help refugees pets. Phil said –

A bit of good news in all the gloom. I took a second car load of animal food donations to the drop off point today – by the time I got home again people had kindly left enough to fill my garage up once more. People are doing Herculean things – this is a picture of the back of a transit van filled with donations from us, and what Maxine Priest and Tracy Hatch have collected and delivered. The donations will go to help refugees pets and animal shelters.

Phil later wrote –

Phew! So far I’ve taken 2 cars full of food to one distribution point at Upminster, went to one at Brentwood and today took another car load to Rayleigh. And when I say ”car load” it’s the boot stuffed full, the backseat full and the front passenger seat full. I was particularly impressed with the Megacentre at Rayleigh, by the weir. I was going to take a photo of your donations, but as soon as I brought them in, they got whisked away to go onto a lorry, which is leaving tomorrow.

Your donations have gone or are going to refugee centres in Poland, Romania, and todays lot to Moldova to a camp which has a lot of women, children and pets, so your food will be very much appreciated I’m sure. Also, working on the principle of a hungry dog or cat is a hungry dog or cat I still have some donations left, which I’ll take to the Billericay Foodbank, which is, and I quote, “flat out” of food. I know you’re incredibly generous people and we would normally have run an appeal this time of year for the foodbank, so I’d hate for them to miss out. I’ve asked a few people for their opinion on this and no-one has minded, but I’m aware it’s your donations (and ultimately money) involved so I wanted to be 100% above board. If you’d prefer your donation to go to Ukraine it probably has, but it’s a certainty that it will benefit a dog or cat in need!

If you still have food to donate, I’ll happily take it of course, or you could keep it in case more is needed for pets of Ukrainian refugees, or give it to the local foodbank. Thanks to everyone who has shown such kindness and generosity when times are tough – the one good thing out of this awful business is that bottom line, we are decent, caring people. You can email Phil at philipbradley@gmail.com to arrange to donate.

The Chequers Pub in Billericay updated on their collection –

Tony and Wayne in Poland delivering the goods!

Well done Tony and Wayne Griffiths xxx mission accomplished. See you in a few days xxx

All in all it’s been a wonderful overwhelming response by local people, and these are just the ones I know about!