SWEETS and chocolates are being collected and sent to the people fleeing Ukraine, most of whom are women and children.
Dawn McGuinness, who manages the bar at The Venue Bar in Bolton town centre, has taken it upon herself to provide some sweet treats for those crossing the border from Ukraine into Poland.
While donations are being made for essentials such as warm clothing and toiletries, Dawn saw an opportunity to spread a bit of much needed joy to those in the most desperate of circumstances.
She said: "I heard a report on TV and the reporter was talking about the refugees and how something as small as a bar of chocolate would raise the spirits of the children and bring a smile to their faces.
“I put out an appeal to our customers for donations and we have been overwhelmed by the generosity of not only our customers but the people of Bolton.”
As part of the efforts there are a team of volunteers helping Dawn, some of whom are flying the Poland with “suitcases full of chocolate and sweets.”
To date they have distributed over 200kg of confectionary.
One of the volunteers said of a recent trip: “We landed at Przemyśl in Poland. There were hundreds of refugees, nearly all woman and kids.
“We handed out Cream Eggs to kids, chocolate bars to parents.”
“We told an English speaker why we were there, and she was amazed. She told us they do go short of sweets and toffees.
“She gave me a box and I put all the sweets and chocolate we had left into it and handed it over, quite happy in the knowledge it’s going to the right folk.”
The Venue Bar has become something of a focal point for the donations. Owner John Wray said: “If you saw my office – it’s like a candy store right now.
"It is wonderful to see how people of Bolton have reacted so quickly to a simple request that on the surface looks very small.
“The initiative by Dawn and the support given by many others around her shows the refugees that they have the support and good wishes of people in a faraway city. Putting smiles on small faces."
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