Delivering aid supplies to the border
Two years ago we extended our oil family to include O&3 Polska with a processing site near Warka, in central-eastern Poland. When we established the site it was to help our European customers overcome the difficulties of Brexit, but since the invasion of Ukraine the site has become the company’s main strategic focus.
Central and Eastern Europe is a key region for O&3 because we have both customers and suppliers in the area. However, despite the turbulence that the conflict has caused to the natural oils market, our focus, and that of our local communities has been to contribute to the humanitarian effort in Ukraine.
Within a week of the conflict the O&3 founders, on behalf of the company had pledged to fill a van with aid supplies, with the aim of driving it over the border to help civilians who were still in the country. The aid supplies, which included basic first aid, essential foods, cooking stoves and fuel, were purchased and packed by our O&3 Polska crew. The team then drove the aid package to the border where it was taken to join the humanitarian convey in Ukraine.
Fundraising efforts continue
We’re continuing to fundraise to be able to do the same aid supplies trip again, as many times as possible! Our teams, in the UK and Poland are holding a series of events in support of the Ukraine aid effort. This includes activities like cake sales, Auction of Promise and company quiz nights with all of the proceeds going directly to purchase and deliver supplies. Money raised by the O&3 crews, along with family and friends is being generously matched by the company.
Our Polka site is 200km from the Ukrainian border and almost as soon as war broke out our team began to see the refugee crisis first hand. Thomas Kerfoot said:
” Many people who we work alongside in the region have strong cultural and familial ties with Ukraine and the bonds of unity that we have with suppliers, customers and colleagues there has never been more important. We wanted to show our solidarity to them and provide on-the-ground support where we could. It’s been incredibly moving to see the support we’ve had already in our fundraising effort.”
We have established a crowdfunding page where we’re aiming to raise £10,000 to send multiple aid packages. Any monies not used for supplies will be used for accommodation to help resettle refugee families.
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