Continuing to provide much-needed aid for the people of Ukraine

Before the latest delivery of humanitarian aid left from Bedminster on Sunday morning, the drivers who have taken part in the dozens of journeys so far were presented with special t-shirts.

Each of these khaki shirts given to the ‘transporters’ have stars on, marking the number of times that each person has taken part in a From Bristol with Love for Ukraine convoy, the latest of which is loaded with goods including generators, first aid, camping equipment and socks.

Sunday marked the first anniversary of the charity, with transporter Daniel Smith, an IT development manager from Bishopston, receiving a shirt with four gold stars.

“What motivates me is that what has gone on is just so clearly evil,” said 50-year-old Smith, before helping to load one of two transit vans ahead of his latest journey across Europe to Ukraine.

“Schools, theatres and hospitals are being bombed. There is just no equivalence about this war. There is the side of good and right, and there is the side of wrong.

“We can do something about it. We don’t just have to sit at home saying, ‘Oh, isn’t it awful.’ We can get up and do something about it.

“But it’s not just the aid that we are transporting. It’s that message of hope that really means something. This is our spring offensive of love. That’s what we’re taking over there and the message that we are with the people of Ukraine.”

From Bristol With Love was originally founded by Ileana and Razvan Constantinescu to deliver aid to children with special needs to Romania.

But when Russia invaded Ukraine, the charity quickly switched to providing aid for the people of Ukraine, moving from the Constantinescus’ garden shed to premises on Willway Street donated by Bristol City Council.

Volunteers are in close contact with people in Ukraine, aiming to provide exactly what they need.

Transporter crews take six days to make the 4,000-mile round trip to the border between Ukraine and Romania, raising the £2,000 cost of hiring the vehicle, fuel, tolls and hotels.

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