Donating warm clothes and shoes to Ukrainians that arrive in Budapest
So much changed in the world in the past week
It's terrifying thinking that overnight so many lives can be ruined, on hold or families are broken/torn apart due to decisions made in the higher ranks. I don't want to write this post with a political touch though, I truly just want to write things off my mind as I've been quite emotional all day. I'm lucky that I'm not living in Ukraine, but I see the messages from our Hive community members like Priyanarc and seeing her videos has made me cry several times. Knowing that she's alone there without her loved ones, not wanting to leave her dog behind that she loves dearly, I feel so sad that she's going through this and I can see her fear and sadness while reading/watching what she shares. Sweetheart, know that we Hive members are with you, we offer an ear if you want to talk, we can offer a digital shoulder if you want to cry, and if you want to rant in DM, be my guest. I won't judge, you are allowed to feel whatever you are feeling and I can only give you tips about how to you can try to calm the mind a bit. I wish I could do more though.
Reading some of the news
Made me realize that we aren't that far away from all of this either. When I read about the Chernobyl news that they have taken possession of that ground (correct me if I'm wrong!) I started to feel a bit scared and wondered what if something were to happen with radiation? How far away are we here, and are we in danger even if our country isn't under attack directly? I mean, I have to be honest that I know little about these things. So I started checking the distance and thinking about what if? Many things crossed my mind and at some point, I just started comforting myself by reminding myself that we'd left our home before with just a few suitcases, we can do this again if needed. I also started considering packing an emergency bag for us, until my mind was a little more at ease that it would probably not be needed. I did make a list of items that I can't forget when we leave, this works both for an emergency situation as well as the moving situation that could be happening a lot sooner than we expected a few weeks ago.
Most of our belongings will be sold or given away
After I received back a quote for the items we would need to move to Spain, I realized that this was not the right way to get our stuff there. Paying more than a few thousand euros for items that probably aren't even worth anything near that but have more emotional value, was not going to happen. I decided that the right way to do this is to give away a lot of things and try to sell the valuable items that we can't take or aren't worth sending by a courier service.
Today I sorted out a lot of winter clothes
Although it's still winter here in Hungary, and it can get a bit cold still, I have plenty of winter clothes, coats, hats, scarves and shoes that I haven't worn once as they are too hot to wear in a car. These are also items that I'd not send over to Spain knowing that we will most likely never even wear them once there. And even if we need them, we will be cheaper off buying them there instead of shipping over our old stuff. My daughter also has a brand new winter coat which she finds way too hot and hasn't used once this winter. I decided these items were going to be donated to the Ukrainian people that have arrived or will arrive here in Hungary. I read that already 90000 people have crossed the border in the past few days and many have found their ways to Budapest by now. They are offered free transportation thankfully so that they can move through the country freely.
Explaining our daughter about the donations
And we already told her a bit about the war that's happening as she noticed a few videos or voice messages in the past week. We told her that there are people arriving here that could not take anything and they will need clothes to keep themselves warm. She immediately (bless her) started to help and said these shoes I don't wear anymore mama, these are too small we can give them to another child that needs them. That made me so proud. Every item I showed her and asked her shall we give this to someone that needs it, she said yes. Tomorrow I will try to find out if another group of people is arriving at the train station nearby as I read that most arrive at 2 big stations and one of them is not far from here and has a parking lot where I can easily park the car. I can't carry the things by hand it's too much as I also had 2 pairs of warm shoes from myself to donate.
If I can't donate it there, I will surely find someone online or an organisation that collects these things so that they will end up in the right hands. I've already collected 3 big bags of items, but I believe there is more to be found.
Protecting families
It breaks my heart knowing that many families will be ripped apart due to this war. Men stay behind and aren't allowed to leave and the mothers and children must be terrified knowing that their brother/dad/grandfather stayed behind while the country is still under attack. I believe that this is a good moment to donate 50% of the earnings to @familyprotection. Although not only do families need protection, it feels right to support the cause with this post.
Thanks, @canadian-coconut for your big heart and all the years of effort you've poured into this cause!
Credits
- Header Image
- The text divider is my own design, where I sometimes use images from Canva Pro or in other cases, my own images.
Let's Connect
If you want to connect, you can give me a follow on my socials. For inquiries, you can send me a direct message on Discord.
This is wonderful....
Yes, it warms my heart as well. She did not doubt for a second.
https://twitter.com/makehivethrive/status/1498780249626193921
The rewards earned on this comment will go directly to the person sharing the post on Twitter as long as they are registered with @poshtoken. Sign up at https://hiveposh.com.
The crisis unites people. War reflects the worst part of humanity, but empathy and solidarity reflect the best. I hope that this invasion comes to an end.
!PIZZA
Yes, thankfully, that's also very noticeable that people try to help where they can and open up their hearts or even their homes to those in need. I've read many heartwarming stories in this area already and I can't help with a lot currently but at least I hope to be able to bring some warmth to those that left everything behind. I read many had to catch the train and leave their luggage simply because there was no room left. So sad.
We can write about it. Speak about it. Denounce. Don't stay quiet.
PIZZA Holders sent $PIZZA tips in this post's comments:
@ditoferrer(3/5) tipped @thisismylife (x1)
Join us in Discord!
A very nice gesture, not to mention the lesson you have taught your daughter.
The constant news received every day about this happenstance is so disheartening and dreadful.
I feel for the lives, family, and loved ones in Ukraine. My prayers are with them.
This is so thoughtful of you to offer this donation in the slightest way you can to help those out there.
At this time, it's the only thing I can do and it's much better than having these warm clothes barely worn or even unused. It's so heartbreaking to read people didn't only leave their homes behind, but also had to leave their luggage in many cases when the train was full. Breaks my heart.
How heartbreaking it must be. And for me, I wonder how it would have been cause my luggage is as precious to me too. It holds so many memories I wouldn't have wanted to let go of.
yeah usually you take the most important things in the suitcases close to you, I get what you mean. They probably packed most important stuff there too. I've reached out to a group of expats helping the people arriving in Budapest and hoping to find the people that need these items. Most are looking for a place to stay from what I've read, which I can't offer but I bet there are also families that can use some warm clean clothes for themselves or children.
Yea. A shelter is very hard to come by but for clothing, that can be easily offered.
Still, you are doing your very best to help out and that's what matters.
It's how humanity should be.
Yeah, should be indeed. Thankfully, only Hive alone, reading how people support others is heartwarming. And I'm also very happy to see Hungary doing their part as they weren't helping refugees before, and very strict. But now with this war, they have stepped up, and that's great.
Exactly.
That's a good step up indeed
You are not wrong, there were fights there and Russians took control at the beginning of the conflict.
yeah, that's kind of scary tbh. I mean, even for people living in countries around Ukraine. Who knows what they can do if something happens there.
Do you move to Spain? I saw you are from Hungary. I'm from Romania. And yeah, a conflict next to you can be unsettling. I can say the same thing about the one in Yugoslavia, many years ago. I was actually closer to that one.
Yeah, moving back to Spain, we lived there a while before moving here. I'm not Hungarian so the previous war was not near to me.
What is going on in Ukraine is so terrible. I did hear on the news today that Ukraine is finally on the offensive. I hope they can find a way to do grave damage to that 40-mile long caravan while it is stuck.
It's horrible. I'm trying not to watch the news constantly but as there is one girl on Hive that I follow for a long time already, I feel for her. Thankfully, today she let me know she's ok for now. Hopefully she can leave there tomorrow.
This is a fabulous way to help by being wise.