​Stroud School and King Edward VI collect donations for Ukraine

King Edward’s, an independent school in Southampton, and Stroud School, its prep school in Romsey, have collected a staggering 200 crates of donations to send to refugees on the Ukrainian/ Polish border in just three days.

The crates, which are now filled with items such as blankets, towels, warm clothes, medical supplies, food and baby formula, will be shipped across to the Polish/ Ukrainian border this week. One parent, who works in exports, donated four entire palettes of tea bags.

The Polish Social Club in Southampton had arranged the shipment, and were asking their community for donations. King Edward’s heard about this initiative through staff, and approached the club to find out how they could help. That evening both schools sent an email out to their families, asking for any donations to be brought into the schools to be shipped. Solent Plastics, based in Romsey, kindly donated all 200 crates free of charge.

Neal Parker, Head at King Edward VI School, said: “Both school communities are feeling so helpless with the events that are unfolding in Ukraine and so we sought a way in which we could contribute and help this humanitarian crisis. We have been absolutely amazed with the response from our families and friends, who have donated items over the last few days.”

King Edward’s Charity Commission, a group run by Sixth Form students, spent break and lunchtimes sorting through the donations, ready to be packed and shipped.