“I couldn’t stand by, I had to do something”
Like everyone who has been watching the unfolding horror of the war in Ukraine, Glasson man Paul Hamilton just knew he had to do something to help, but he admits that “wanting to do something and actually doing it are two different things.”
However, the former Buccaneers RFC player will set out from Athlone on Tuesday of next week, March 22, in a convoy of vans which will deliver vital supplies of dry food, toiletries and baby essentials to an orphanage on the Polish/Ukraine border, following a huge Ukraine Food Appeal which has been organised by Buccaneers RFC.
Anyone wishing to donate to the Buccs Ukraine Food Appeal can drop off donations to the Buccaneers office in Dubarry Park on Saturday, March 19, between 10am and 1pm and the organisers say they are in urgent need of non-perishable food items such as rice, pasta, cereal bars, canned food, coffee, bottled water and pet food, as well as items such as toiletries, particularly for women and children, nappies, baby wipes and baby formula. They are not seeking any clothes as part of their appeal.
Paul Hamilton says he originally volunteered his services to the Red Cross on the ground in Poland when the war first broke out, but he was told that they were only looking for people with medical expertise. “I couldn’t stand by, I had to do something, and being turned down by the Red Cross made me all the more determined to organise some sort of collection” he said.
Stressing that he is “just an ordinary Joe” who has been very moved by the plight of the Ukrainian people, Paul says the goodwill since news of the Buccs Food Appeal became public has been “just overwhelming.”
He points to the fact that he received €1,000 worth of cash donations in a short space of time during the past week, including one donation of a €500 note for diesel and two €100 notes from random people who just wanted to do something to help.
Having played rugby with Buccaneers for many years, Paul Hamilton has enlisted the help of some of his former teammates and club members as co-drivers for the trip to Poland, including Shane Nolan from Hodson Bay; Jimmy Doolan from Golden Island and Derek Lackey from Coosan.
He explains that the club made contact with an orphanage on the Polish/Ukraine border through a Polish contact, Ann, who lives in Athlone, and has connections with the orphanage. "She told us that some mothers are so desperate when they come across the border from Ukraine that they are just dropping their children at the orphanage to ensure that they are looked after, it’s just heart breaking,” says Paul.
He adds that he is prepared to "make as many trips to Poland as are required, so the more donations we get the more we can help the refugees from Ukraine, and we are more than happy to do it.”
Anyone wishing to make a donation to the Ukraine Food Appeal organised by Buccaneers RFC can do so at Dubarry Park from 10am to 1pm on Saturday, March 19, and anyone seeking further information or who can offer any help with the appeal can contact Paul Hamilton at: 087 9834953.