August 27th 2024.
The night the first air raid siren went off, I was terrified. The sound was absolutely horrendous. I couldn't even imagine what it must have been like for the children who were forced to take shelter in makeshift dormitories every time the siren sounded. They were already living in difficult conditions in school gyms, and now they had to face the added fear of a potential attack.
I spent three weeks in Lviv, Ukraine in June 2022. It all started when the war broke out and I felt a strong urge to help. I started a shoebox aid campaign on my dining room table, and I was following the journey of each box as I delivered them to those who needed them most. It was a small gesture, but I knew every little bit could make a difference.
The journey wasn't easy. The lorry I had planned to use to transport the aid refused to go over the border due to the dangerous conditions. But I was determined to find a way. We managed to get the aid moved in other trucks and vans, and I knew I had to stop at nothing to get the help to the Ukrainians who needed it.
This kind of work came naturally to me. My son, Sam, had served as a marine and was deployed to Afghanistan in 2008. I remembered feeling helpless and unsure of what to do at the time. So, when the idea of the shoebox campaign came to me, I didn't hesitate to jump into action. I filled up spare shoeboxes with sweets, games, toiletries, gloves, underwear, and letters to send to the troops.
The boxes arrived just in time. The day after a horrific incident where three of Sam's unit members were killed, the boxes arrived. Sam told me they couldn't have come at a better time and were a real boost for the troops.
I strongly believe that anyone can take shelter in our safe space. This is what Amanda, my friend and colleague, always tells me. It's a place where people can come for support, to talk, and know that they're not alone. We have a community hub in Holbeach where we host coffee mornings and craft sessions. It's a welcoming space for anyone who needs it.
When the Russian invasion of Ukraine happened in February 2022, I immediately knew that I had to send boxes there too. I appealed online for donations and collected toiletries, nappies, clothing, teddies for orphans, and medical supplies. The response was overwhelming, and donations came from all over the country. My house was overflowing with items, and I drove around the country to collect more.
I remember feeling shocked and heartbroken when I saw the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017. I couldn't wrap my head around the tragedy, so I started filling more shoeboxes. I also posted about it on social media, and soon people were arriving at my house in Lincolnshire with bags of donations.
We packed 200 boxes with essentials and labeled them according to sex and age. I borrowed a van to deliver them, and that day changed my life. It was like a warzone, but I also saw the real power of community. Even though security wouldn't let me deliver the boxes personally, they promised that the aid would reach the people who needed it.
The shoebox campaign grew into something bigger than I could have ever imagined. We became known as Boxes of Hope, and to date, we have sent 25 18-tonne lorry loads of aid to Ukraine. But our work didn't stop there. We also became the first point of call for refugees arriving in Lincolnshire, helping them find the services they need.
Being the managing director of this organization has taken over my life, but I wouldn't have it any other way. It's a constant job, and I'm always dealing with something. But it's also incredibly humbling. I feel proud of how much we've grown, and it's like a miracle to see the impact we've made.
There's no typical day for me. The phone calls and messages start coming in at 7am, but I never know what we'll be dealing with until people come through the door. We have a wide range of people seeking our help, from those who have fled domestic abuse, asylum seekers, homeless veterans, to older people facing issues like dementia or needing assistance with care. We also help families who are struggling to make ends meet due to the cost-of-living crisis.
Sometimes people tell me that I should go into politics, but I prefer to do this. It's real, and it's genuine. Our motto is "make kindness your magic," and that's exactly what we strive to do. People come to us and realize that they're not alone. If we can't do that for humans, if we can't show our communities that people care, then what's the point of being here?
Our organization has gone beyond Ukraine and is now making a real difference in the lives of many people. We've received an overwhelming amount of support from the community, and it's been so humbling that I couldn't just stop. There are so many people who need help, and I would love to see this replicated in other areas.
Securing funding is always a challenge, but we've been fortunate enough to receive some Lottery funding. However, we still rely heavily on donations from individuals and companies. We've launched a "cost of a coffee" campaign to encourage people to donate a few pounds each month, and our shop and van also help bring in money. But it's a constant struggle.
Ideally, we would like to buy our building so that it stays within the community. This would also help with our costs as we won't have to pay rent. People often tell me that I should go into politics, but I'd rather continue doing this work. It's real, and it's making a tangible impact on people's lives.
We believe that kindness is a powerful force, and we strive to spread it wherever we can. Our community hub in Holbeach is a testament to that. People come to us for support, and we do our best to provide practical help and a listening ear. We've come a long way, and I'm proud of what we've accomplished. But there's still so much more to do, and I hope to see this kindness continue to grow and make a difference in the world.
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