By Andy Hirst

The people of Kirklees have now provided more than 1,000 boxes of essential supplies for the Ukrainian war victims … and the aid and money keeps on rolling in.

The magnificent response has left Huddersfield Ukrainian Club members deeply touched.

Now one its senior members, Michael Drapan, has sent a passionate thank you message to everyone who has helped.

He said: “On behalf of the Huddersfield Ukrainian community I would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to the people of Kirklees for the enormous outpouring that has been showered upon us as a result of the humanitarian crisis that has befallen our nation.

“The kindness, generosity, compassion and solidarity that has been shown to our nation has been overwhelming.

“From small scale coffee mornings to large scale concerts, rallies and parades, enormous sums have been amassed, providing our people with the hope that Ukraine will survive as an independent and sovereign nation.

“How our people, our nation, our community can ever repay this herculean debt of gratitude is unknown. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”

Michael Drapan outside Huddersfield Ukrainian Club in Edgerton

Kirklees Council and Ukrainians already living in Huddersfield are now devising the best way to help refugees from the war-torn country heading our way.

The council has been staggered by the response of local people offering to have refugees in their homes and is now working closely with Huddersfield Ukrainian Club on how best to do this.

Michael added: “Kirklees residents are now reaching out to invite refugees into their own homes. As the crisis continues to evolve and more Ukrainian refugees enter the towns and villages of Kirklees, we would like people to know that the Ukrainian club will act as a hub and any guidance or support that we as a community can give will be openly available.”

To watch the full video of Michael’s thanks go to www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILl7igo1XZk

* Tell us what you’re doing for Ukraine by emailing martin@huddersfieldhub.co.uk and don’t forget to include photos add in your phone number so we can get back to you if necessary.

* Written by former Huddersfield Examiner Head of Content ANDY HIRST who runs his own Yorkshire freelance journalism agency AH! PR (https://ah-pr.com/) specialising in press releases, blogging and copywriting. Copyright Andy Hirst.