A Cheshire-based logistics company has delivered 10 tonnes of aid to Ukrainian refugees in Poland after an appeal for clothing, baby supplies, toiletries and food received a bumper response from staff and customers.
Employees of Kinaxia Logistics, their families and friends rallied round along with clients of the nationwide group to donate thousands of items over a four-week period.
The goods were collected from the group’s sites across the country and taken to Kinaxia company Mark Thompson Transport in Warrington for wrapping and packing.
A Mark Thompson Transport warehouse team stacked the donated items on 26 pallets which were loaded on to a truck and driven to the town of Zamość, which is 40 miles from the Ukrainian border.
Kinaxia driver Tomasz Konarski, 42, who is from Poland and lives in Chester, volunteered to travel to his home country to deliver the much-needed aid.
His route took him via Dover, Calais, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany before he arrived in Poland after a four-day journey of 1,400 miles.
“I was happy to help. It was a good thing to do and greatly appreciated,” said Tomasz.
The mission was coordinated by Dave Cork, senior operations manager at Mark Thompson Transport.
He said: “It was a fantastic effort by our staff, their families and friends and our customers.
“The trailer was full of items generously donated from across the country, including clothing for men, women and children, nappies, baby medicines, rice and other foodstuffs, toiletries, sleeping bags and bottled water.
“The aid will make a tremendous difference to the lives of Ukrainians who have fled their homeland and sought refuge in neighbouring Poland.”
Kinaxia chief executive Simon Hobbs said: “The response to our appeal was truly heart-warming and inspiring. It was great to see our Kinaxia family and our customers coming together to offer support to the people of Ukraine in this way.”
Kinaxia Logistics has its headquarters in Macclesfield and comprises 13 freight and logistics businesses across the UK with over 1,800 staff and more than 800 vehicles which transport goods for the retail, leisure, food and drink and manufacturing sectors.
The group has 2.7 million sq ft of warehouse facilities nationwide, offering contract packing, e-fulfilment, returns management and storage services.
