A small bit of Poland in Bundoran helping Ukrainian refugees

Radek and Joanna Bosak who own the Polish shop ‘Sami Swoi’ in Bundoran, have been totally overwhelmed by the “amazing” generosity and help offered by the people of Donegal to the people of Ukraine over recent days since the invasion of the latter by the Russian Federation.

Within three days of opening up for donation boxes from locals, they were literally swamped and could take no more.   
It is a similar tale that is taking place in many other locations throughout Donegal, big and small.
“The response of the Irish has been quite amazing as has our own Polish community,” Joanna said, as husband Radek spoke to people arriving with yet more donations at the front of the shop.

Today the long journey began of organising transport onto Poland, through Donegal Town. 
Radek told DonegalLive.ie:

TODAY'S FRONT PAGE EDITION OF THE DONEGAL POST 

“We were just watching the television like everybody else. I come from western Poland. What we have witnessed since has been shocking over recent days.”
“When I first saw the reports on Irish and Polish TV, I did not believe it to be true,” he said.
“We watched thousands of women and children crossing the Polish border from Ukraine. The Polish and Ukrainian people have always been close.
He added: “With the war, they are now trying to do everything to help. We know that the war makes no sense. Ukraine is a normal country. This is actually Putin’s war, not a Russian war. The Russian people don’t want that war. But it has happened and now the Polish people are trying to help the Ukrainian people in any way that they can.

Radek and Joanna Bosak who have been been collecting donation boxes for Ukrainian refugees crossing 

into their native Poland

He added that his first reaction and that of his his wife was one of utter incredulity.
“We didn’t believe it at all. I double checked everything as I thought it was fake news.
“I remember thinking, ‘that’s fake news, that’s impossible!’, I called my parents in Poland and they couldn’t believe it either.”
Radek explained that it was his wife Joanna and her friend Edyta McGloin that really got the ball rolling on Sunday.
When I visited the shop yesterday, the couple who made Donegal their home for 17 years and who have a young son, spent most of the time apologising.
They literally had every nook and cranny stuffed, with donations, which by now were finding their way onto the shop floor itself.
A sign had already been placed on the front door telling potential donors that they could take no more, at this time, but these were either not seen or being respectfully ignored.
It was very moving and at times emotional, as people came in one after one, or groups.
Many had spent the morning shopping for toiletries and non-perishable food items in other local shops.
Each time someone else came into the shop, they tried to find another spot to put the donated items into.
Some were reduced to tears when initially told that donations had been oversubscribed many times.
Radek and Joanna, are quick to pay tribute to friends Matthew and Edyta McGloin, who have helped set up the transportation and logistics, but were still finding it so hard to say ‘No’.

Collection
But the sheer physical limitations of the space in their shop meant that both are already talking about another collection in the near future, for items that will be needed in the future.
“They don’t need more clothes. We will see what is needed and then decide. The Irish feel the same way. Thanks so much to the people in Bundoran, Ballyshannon, Kinlough and surrounding areas up to Donegal Town. We are just doing our little bit and it all adds up. Thank you so much,” he added.
The goods will be transported to Donegal Town this Wednesday morning where they will make an onward journey to a large distribution location in Poland.
In normal circumstances, it would take three days but Radek says with everything that is happening and donations coming in from all over Europe, he hopes that the Donegal donations will arrive as soon as possible.
Shops including local SuperValu’s in the county are also allowing people to donate items for transportation across Europe.
Ballyshannon, Donegal Town, Killybegs, Glenties and Ardara are also stepping up to the mark to help in any way that they can.
It’s the beginning of March 2022.
Two weeks ago Donegal spoke of Covid. This week, the lexicon has changed to European war, invasion and civilian catastrophe.
Russia is invading Ukraine and for the first time since the Cold War, the three chilling icy words of World War Three are being openly discussed in conversation for the first time in many decades.