IN Starcross, residents have been making donations to help the relief effort.

St Paul’s Parish Church’s collection plate at its Sunday service was for donations to the CR2EE Christian Reponse for Eastern Europe charity.

Hugh Scudder, charity director, who has spearheaded the Shoebox Hampers for Moldova campaign for many years, is co-ordinating donations to support Ukrainan refugees who have arrived in the country.

The charity has almost 30 years of experience and helped thousands of people in Moldova and Romania.

Hugh said the charity has been raising money to send to Moldova, one of the poorest countries in Europe, to help the refugee effort.

He said: ‘Thousands are flocking over the border into Moldova.

‘When they first cross they are offered food and water before moving on to safe accommodation.

‘Many families in Moldova are now accommodating refugees from the Ukraine.

‘We will be sending additional funds to help them.

‘It is humbling to see how those with so little are willing to help others who have lost so much.

‘With the increasing number of people flooding into Moldova from the Ukraine we need more sheets and blankets, very good sheets and blankets, they deserve the best we can provide.

‘In addition to financial support we continually look for very good quality clothing, summer and winter, adults and children, but everything must be of the best quality. They deserve the best we can get.‘We sincerely hope we will be able to dispatch our next lorry soon to support them.’