Help on the way to Ukraine from generous staff

Employees wore blue and yellow in support of Ukraine

The staff of a Chadderton company have stepped up to help those affected by the crisis in Ukraine.

Ultimate Products, based in Manor Mill, has arranged for De Boer Transport, the Group’s logistics partner, to take a lorry loaded with donations to Poland on behalf of the Ukrainian Centre Manchester, which needed help delivering items.

The donations include toiletries, blankets, teddy bears, toys and warm clothes, and have been provided by Ukrainian Centre Manchester, as well as Ultimate Products and its employees. The efforts were arranged and coordinated by Dawn Forrest, an accounts clerk with the Group.

Last week, employees wore blue and yellow in support of Ukraine. Colleagues were asked to wear the colours of the Ukrainian flag and donate to the Disasters Emergency Committee’s (DEC) Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal. DEC charities are working to meet the immediate needs of those fleeing the conflict with food, water, medical assistance, protection, and trauma care.

In addition, Simon Showman, Ultimate Products’ Chief Executive, has raised over £40,000 for Rabbi Tzvi Sperber, the founding Director of JRoots. This is a non-profit organisation based in the UK and Israel which, before the Ukraine crisis, ran educational journeys to Poland to teach people about the Holocaust. Rabbi Sperber and his team have refocused JRoots’ work to aid Ukrainian refugees and those still trapped in the country.

Rabbi Sperber has been working to get women and children across the Ukrainian border and into Poland, while at the same time delivering food and medical equipment into Ukraine. Simon raised the funds in just 48 hours by appealing to friends and colleagues from across the North-West business community.

Simon Showman, Chief Executive of Ultimate Products, said: "Like so many others, we have been watching in horror as the events in Ukraine have unfolded. We are desperate to help in any way that we can and are pleased to be able to use our logistical capabilities and business contacts to provide much-needed equipment and funds to those in need.”

Dawn Forrest, who organised the border donation, said she's been impressed by the generosity of her colleagues.

"This all started with a simple request to my colleagues for donations to the Ukrainian humanitarian appeal. As I knew they would, the team at Ultimate Products stepped forward to generously provide toiletries, blankets, sanitary ware, nappies, warm clothes, and toys.

"The Ukrainian Centre needed assistance getting the donations to Poland, and our management team were more than happy to organise this element of the response. I would like to say a massive thank you to everyone here at Ultimate Products, and in particular the guys in the warehouse for all their help and hard work.”

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