Hugo's Help Ukrainian Refugees in Poland

A young family from Sherwood, in Nottingham, make a round trip to Poland to offer their help and assistance with aid and donations to Ukrainian refugees.

"So where do I start? We are a small independent cocktail bar in Sherwood called HUGO’s 1628 miles from Kyiv, and when the war in Ukraine hit - we decided to help as much as we could!

My husband, Adam and myself Katharine, both have Grandparents who are Polish-born and escaped during the Second World War. We therefore decided that we should help the refugees as much as we could.  

The journey started with us collecting items to ship over to Zamo??, on the border with Ukraine. We put a call out to the local area and we were inundated with donations from a lot of people! The feelings we had were so overwhelming and humbling, that so many people wanted to help. Boxes were piled high to the ceiling and we had many volunteers helping us to sort the donations. I never really expected to have so many items to sort, but also so much help! At this point we wanted to do even more - which is when we decided we could fly over and help in person, which was cheaper than shipping.  We started a Just Giving page and explained exactly where the money was going to be used. 

Ten days later, we were on our way to the airport. Me being me, I arranged with Raddison Blu for a free suite to stay in and free car parking. They were so happy to help - which is the feeling we had from everyone. People just want to help. Our 5 year old son, Hugo, came with us on our adventure and understood that we were there to help other people. We have never shied away from the true facts of what happens during a war and he was outraged, just like us. 

DAY ONE

We started our journey in a small town called Biala, where my Grandparents are buried. This was our base - we literally just slept there - even though the lodge we stayed in was so beautiful, we never really got to use it much! Day one was more about travelling and finding out what the charities needed. 

DAY TWO

Day two was heartbreaking. I don’t think there are any words to actually describe what we saw. I don’t think either of us were really prepared, even though we thought we were. We went to PEPCO, a shop like Primark, and spent around £300 on clothes. The ladies who served us were wondering why we had bought so much - but we explained and they were so thankful that we wanted to help. We then went to Bierdronka, a supermarket, again with a lot of strange looks from people! We were literally pulling boxes of items off the shelf and ended up with trolleys worth of food! Throughout all of this, Hugo was so well-behaved and helpful. He kept asking if they would want this or that. We then donated these to a donation bank in a place called Wiele.  Wiele has a population of around 5000 people and they had estimated that around 500 refugees had turned up into the village looking for help. One family had settled in my cousin's flat, Vicktoria, 45, Tatiana, 25, Angelina, 15 and Makar, 4. 

The family were lovely. We went to meet them and even after leaving Ukraine with nothing, they were trying to give us things to say thank you. Makar and Hugo got on really well - children don’t need language, they just need kindness. There were a lot of tears shed and a lot of vodka drank, I mean it would be rude not to! We asked if they needed anything and all the family said was ‘they have a roof over their heads and it is quiet.’ We later on found out that they needed coal or as my cousin said ‘black rocks’. My cousin, Ania, had been supporting them financially, but with every Polish family, money is tight. So on Day 2 we went to buy them coal. For four months worth of coal it costs us about £35! When the gentlemen delivered the coal, he told the ladies that it was the Mayor of England who had ordered it!

Makar gave Hugo his teddy that he had brought from Ukraine, which we will give back when we visit them when there is peace.

Hugo sleeps with this teddy every single night and is proud to tell people where it came from. 

DAY THREE

On day three we went to another charity in Wronki. This charity was being supported by a local restaurant, which did amazing food! We met lots of people there that had fled. We spoke to the organiser and asked what specifics they needed. Things like nappies they had loads of, but they needed items like deodorant, toothbrushes and toothpaste. So back off to the supermarket we went. During the trips to the supermarket, we would literally fill 4 or 5 shopping trollies and cram it into the car! At one point we had so much that my cousin and Hugo had to have it on their knees. Now there’s one thing you forget, in Poland there are lots of corners… so you can imagine what kept happening… Hugo was getting buried in boxes of rice and cereal! He thought it was hilarious.  In such sad times, we had to find some things to laugh at, otherwise we cried all the time.  We did multiple trips and supported people as much as we could. It was truly exhausting as everything is so spread out!

DAY FOUR

On day four we had to go back to Poznan, where we flew into. We found another charity to speak to. Whilst we waited for our lunch, I was interviewed by BBC Radio Nottingham about what we were doing. It was strange because Mark Dennison couldn’t quite believe it. He was more surprised when he found out Hugo had come with us. It was so difficult talking about what we had been doing without just crying and getting all emotional, but I pushed through.

We had called ahead to the charity and asked what we needed to buy. This was the worst day we encountered. We had previously spoken to people who had fled and we helped but nothing prepared us for what we were about to see and help with. We were asked for readymade baby food, readymade pasta pots and energy bars. So us being us, filled the car again and went to the MTP. We pulled up and I said to Adam, oh I must go and try and tell them we have donations. Low and behold we met a gentleman from Wales! So he told us everything that had been happening whilst he had been volunteering.

The MTP is the size of the NEC Birmingham. It is separated into different halls, each hall was packed full of donations - and refugees. We learnt about the 1700 bed area where immediate help would be received for those travelling. It was harrowing. 

I started to do an Instagram Live to show people exactly what it was like and as I pan round there’s donations of pushchairs, medical equipment, food piled high and desperate people. For the first time in the 4 days I broke down in front of people - we were trying to stay strong in front of people because hey, who wants a blubbering mess helping them? At this point Hugo ran up to me and cuddled me. A cuddle that meant the world.

We then went round to the front of the MTP where people were being received. Mothers with small babies, toddlers and teenagers. The grey blank expressions are ingrained on our brains. What more could we do to help? We walked down to the train station, with more food in hand and tried to help there. People were coming off the train injured, dehydrated and shell-shocked. The only thing I can compare it to in my life is the TV series, Dads Army, with field tents in the road.

One man collapsed from dehydration, a woman with part of her leg missing and with shrapnel in her eyes were some of the people we tried to help. The deafening silence of scared children filled the room. The realisation of how horrific this war was, was in front of us. We rushed to the chemists and bought medical supplies, which is the only real expensive thing in Poland, and more food and water to help. 

After all this we said to Hugo he could have a McDonald’s. You can’t believe how well behaved our 5-year-old was and also the help he gave so we said he could have a treat. As I am ordering the food, this teenage girl is looking at her bank balance, she can be no older than 13, and looking at what she could afford. In the end I said she can have whatever and we will pay. From what I could understand she hadn’t had a hot meal in about 4 days. The worst part was she was alone in a strange city in a different country. 

We had to fly out really early the next day, so we headed back to a hotel. Just under £3000 spent on helping the most vulnerable. We were exhausted, hadn’t stopped for the four days and the last thing we said to each other was ‘I wish we could stay’. 

THANK YOUs

We want to say a massive thank you to everyone who donated either with their time or money. We couldn’t have done it without you. We continue to collect money to send to the charities to help them.

Adam, Katharine and Hugo Shaw