Businessmen open Greenock building as aid HQ for Ukraine

The Singh family this week opened the doors of Cathcart House building, which their business Alliance Group Management has owned for around eight years, to give volunteers a central sorting hub.

Polish nationals Marta Kosciuk and Monika Kobylinska, who now both live in Scotland, were looking for premises to house the huge amount of donations streaming in for those fleeing Russia's deadly invasion.

The kind volunteers, who have relatives in Ukraine, were put in touch with the Singh family who immediately offered access to their town centre building - and donated £3,000 to the Ukraine fund.

Avi Singh, who helped set up the aid HQ with his brothers, told the Tele: "We were made aware volunteers could not find somewhere suitable.

"We immediately offered the building we have in Greenock to give them a space to work and a local drop-off point for those looking to help.

"We were put in touch on Monday and by Wednesday we had spoken with Inverclyde Council and got everything set up to go."

Marta and Monika are part of wider volunteer effort, 'Scotland For Ukraine', and are co-ordinating the local effort by sorting and organising hundreds of donations to be driven directly to the border between Poland and Ukraine.

Marta, whose sister is currently helping civilians at the border, said: "We have already sent 11 tonnes of goods on a lorry, but it was becoming bigger than we were able to deal with and we are not professionals.

"This building means we have space to sort everything and have more volunteers in to help."

Kind local people have already helped fill countless bags with warm clothing and sleeping bags for the refugees, however the volunteers are keen to gather specific items.

Monika said: "We need items such as baby formula, nappies, children's medicines and other essentials.

"We have also been told that the Ukranians require goods for survival needs, such as tourniquets to stop bleeding, first aids packs, helmets, power banks and medications.

"It would also be very helpful if anyone could let us borrow tables so we do not need to sort items on the floor.

"To help us transport items, we need as many cardboard boxes as we can get and also tape and labels to help us ensure everything is correctly sorted."

The Singh family also arranged for a QR code to be displayed in the window of Cathcart House which takes users directly to a donation page for Ukraine.

Bal Singh said: "We set up the code so people who want to help know exactly where their money is going.

"It goes straight into the central fund that has been set up and also means if the facility is closed, people can still donate.

"We donated £3,000 to the fund and will be covering the costs of having the building operating.

"My brothers and I just want to help where we can."

Councillors Robert Moran and Michael McCormick are in talks to bring in reserved parking in the Cathcart Street car park for those who wish to donate to the relief effort.

CVS Inverclyde have also stepped in to help source volunteers who can help with the operation of the central sorting facility.

Councillor Moran said: "Things moved really quickly and we've been delighted to support the Singh family and the volunteers.

"People want to help and the effort everyone is going to is commendable.

"Local people would give you the jacket off their back to help, that's the kind of place Inverclyde is."

Opening hours and volunteer requirements will be published in the coming days, however those who want to keep updated can join the 'Scotland For Ukraine' Facebook group.

Cllr McCormick said: "We are planning on reintroducing designated parking and also will ensure anyone parking directly outside the building to drop-off will not receive a ticket.

"CVS are working now to help get volunteers who want to give their time to help.

"It's amazing - a real community effort."

To find out more about the local relief effort visit bit.ly/3Mnibwa