A bus with aids for the Ukrainian refugees has arrived in Poland from Assen. This mainly concerns medical devices, medicines, clothing and shoes. The items were collected in Assen and there have been so many that a truck with goods will also leave Assen for Poland this weekend.
The bus driver, Harmjan Sloots, felt called to drive to Poland. He has friends in Ukraine and that is why he is also affiliated with the organization Assen for Ukraine. On Tuesday afternoon, Harmjan Sloots started the aid campaign on Facebook and that was a success. “In the evening we already had too much for one bus, so we loaded it up and the rest goes that way with a truck.”
‘I had to do something’
Sloots is rolling up its sleeves with the successful fundraising campaign. “When I hear that Ukrainians have nothing left and walk or drive to the border with a bag, it makes me itch. I had to do something,” says Sloots. Sloots already wanted to cross the border to Ukraine to pick up refugees there, because they are not allowed to cross the border themselves. “Then I can take them to a collection point on the Polish border.” It is still uncertain whether he can do this.
Sloots has now arrived in the Polish capital, Warsaw. “When I walk here in the shopping center, nothing seems to be wrong while a few kilometers away it is distressing,” says Sloots. He goes shopping with two friends from Warsaw so that they can refill the empty bus with things that they take to the border. “We go shopping, but then we don’t go shopping. We look for military gear, a good bag and shoes.” In Warsaw Sloots is also offered stuff from Polish people “we cram them in where possible, so the next bus can already go to the border”, according to Sloots.
Friends from Ukraine
Sloots’ friends from Ukraine are now safe. “Fortunately, my friends were allowed to cross the border and did not have to fight.” Whether that’s because one of them has young children and the other is medically discharged for the military is unknown. Sloots finds it difficult to estimate when he can go home again. “It is still unclear how long I will stay here, I have taken at least two weeks off. It is difficult to leave because there is still plenty to do here.”