Volunteers and community members at a Bolton temple have rallied to support people in need in the Ukraine with an incredible donation of supplies.
The supplies, coming to 26 pallets of essential items, were raised thanks to donations made by temple goers at Swaminaryan Mandir in Deane Road. Volunteers will travel all the way out to Poland to make sure they get to those most in need on the border with Ukraine.
Before being sent out, the supplies were given a traditional Hindu blessing at the temple on Tuesday were people from the local community gathered to see receive the goods before they were sent off to the embattled Eastern European border.
(Left to right) Kersheaup Vagadia, Nilesh Vagadia, Cllr Musadir Dean, Prudip Naran, Sanjay Naran and Ahis Naran
Volunteer Dipesh Raghwani said: “It’s been inspired by our Guru’s philosophy of putting society before self and our community really has railed together.
“We also have a team going out to Poland to distribute them to people who really need them.
“We’ve really been looking to have support from the local community in terms of sourcing all of the materials, everything is coming from the UK, so that’s been really good as well.”
“It’s been really lovely and we’re actually hoping to host an interfaith event of Saturday.
“So, members of the Ukrainian community will be there as well to come together and pray for everybody in Ukraine.”
The goods were given a Hindu blessing before being sent on their way
“This is the start of something hopefully bigger, we will be doing the best we can
Local cash and carries had come forward to help with the effort by providing goods at reduced prices and on a large scale.
Cllr Musadir Dean, Bolton Council cabinet members for stronger communities, came to the temple on Tuesday to pay tribute to the volunteers and the work they had done.
The supplies will be taken to people in need on the Poland/Ukraine border
This marks the latest in a series of cross community events held across Bolton over recent weeks in support of Ukraine since the launch of the Russian invasion earlier this month.
There will be a peace prayer vigil on Saturday at the temple which will be attended by guests including the Mayor of Bolton, Cllr Linda Thomas the High Sheriff of Manchester Diane Hawkins and the chairman of Bolton'sUkrainian Cultural Centre Yaroslaw Tymchyshyn'
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