WATCH: More than 9,500 bags for Ukraine!

Monday 07 March 2022

More than 9,500 bags filled with donations and goodwill from islanders have set sail from Jersey to help Ukrainian refugees in Poland and Romania.

The efforts were coordinated by Polish Consul Magdalena Chmielewska working with Magdalena Jordan, with the help of Parish Halls, schools, cafés and other community groups.

It's estimated that more than 1.7m civilians have fled Ukraine as a result of the Russian invasion, according to the UN, and it's expected that number could grow up to four million.

To help those fleeing to safety, islanders have been donating toiletries, clothing and baby items to support those fleeing to safety. Collections were held throughout the week, and sorted to ready them for shipping this weekend.

Magdalena Jordan kickstarted collection efforts with her husband, chef Mark Jordan, the weekend after Russia first invaded its neighbour.

She told Express she felt emotional as the final bag - number 9,590 - was loaded up yesterday (Sunday).

"I am so grateful for everyone's good hearts," she said.

Video: The final bag being loaded up.

"I have never imagined that from what I thought would be a small minibus leaving ferry terminal last Tuesday, which was cancelled due to Customs rules, it turned to to be a huge logistical operation involving hundreds of people!

"I just wanted to collect few bags from our restaurant and help few people who couldn't transport donations by themselves. Very quickly I realised we need a huge storage, transport etc.

"That was a moment I contacted [Polish Consul] Magdalena Chmielewska," she explained.

"She has been the main organiser for 'Polish-Jersey Help for Ukraine'. Magda was in charge from Day 1 for all of the logistics, transport, absolutely everything for this action to go ahead and to complete by the end of the week. I'm really pleased I could support her."

Pictured: "This note made me cry. Found it in a bag full of toys. From Romanian child living in Jersey and donating to Ukrainian child living now in Poland," said Magdalena.

"After a few meetings, we split and delegated people. Some were collecting and sorting donations at the Airport, Magda Chmielewska was mostly at the St. Helier Parish Hall and I moved from Wednesday to La Collette storage kindly donated for two weeks by Siena Group and it's CEO Stephen Neal.

"And so from that moment we were receiving donations from schools and all parishes at La Collette."

She continued: "Those from St. Helier Parish Hall and Polish school on Saturday were already sorted as we established on Day 1 a system separating each bag donated into certain categories."

Categorising and sorting was not a simple process.

Video: The sorting effort underway.

"We checked quality, checked each bag for Customs purposes and gave a letter - for example, 'A' was for children's clothing, 'H' was toys and craft, 'Q' for baby items etc.

"On one end, we had volunteers sorting donations, then we had to number each bag and place them into white big bags ready for the forklift to place them into lorries or containers.

"At each point of the operation, we had to make sure we follow Health and Safety. This is a reason I had to sometimes paused the operation and waited until we could safely continue.

"We had to make sure we had enough heavy duty bags, tapes, markers, labels but also enough of volunteers to check donations, then enough of the white bags ready for transport etc."

Video: A line of vans dropping off bags from the Town Hall to La Collette.

Hundreds of people mucked in with the sorting effort, and Magdalena said she was keen they be rewarded for their generosity.

"It was really important for me that people are treated the way I would like to be treated - my personal motto for life. We tried our best to offer people teas, coffees, refreshments, even donuts. I managed to ask few of my suppliers from our business to help and they did straight away. From Mercury, JJ Fox trading, Easenmyne, Cimandis, Mercury, Sigma Group. All helped.

"One day, my husband cooked at his kitchen leek and potatoes soup. We needed to give back a bit of kindness to those who helped us as well during the pandemic when we needed support!"

She said she was hugely grateful for everyone who helped.

"I would really like to thank all volunteers and as I said in my post yesterday evening each and every person who helped - even those who just popped in to give us kind words of support. We experienced few very cold days there, windy conditions and we were working really hard especially those in charge of the pallets," Magdalena explained.

"It was a huge operation and I am so grateful for all help we received. This must be the most wonderful community we have and I am lucky to live, work and be a part of Jersey.

"I also would like to thank personally Martin Buckfield - a kind, lovely and very organized gentleman who I cannot see on any of the photos but without him we all would be lost! One who was first to arrive at La Collette, last one to leave, main coordinator of this huge operation. Thank you Martin!"

HOW CAN I HELP?

While donations have now ceased, islanders can help in other ways.

Islanders can donate to the Bailiff's fund, which aims to coordinate all island donations and send them to where they are most needed.

Side by Side is also establishing an online giving platform, which will be live in the next few days.

Find out how to donate HERE.