A PAIR of families would like to thank those who donated to their fundraiser to buy a car for the Ukrainian refugees they are hosting.

Longparish residents Neil and Natasha Rouse and Henry and Cathy Yelf wanted to thank everyone who gave to the fundraiser, which managed to raise £1,645 in total.

Natasha said: “I think there is nothing like reaching out and helping real individuals you can see and meet on the street and know their stories.

“So, a huge thank you to those that could do that and were able to, as not everyone can afford to that.

“But those who were able to do that, they really made these two families a lot more comfortable in this country and changed their lives a little bit for the better in the horrible situations that they are in.”

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The money went towards purchasing and insuring a car that the refugees could use to get around.

The car will be shared between the refugees that are being hosted by the Rouse’s and Yelf’s, Olena and Vika Shymanska, Tetiana and Kateryna Grydasova, and Mariia Levit.

The families decided to fundraise for the car so that their Ukrainian guests could be more independent, something that is difficult to do in Longparish due to the village’s lack of easily accessible public transport.

Natasha explained: “Between us and the Yelfs, we’re hosting five Ukrainians in the village, and although everyone has been very supportive from the local community, people gave them lifts to the gym and to the shops, we realised it would be helpful for them to be a lot more independent.

“We had this idea, because so many people said, ‘if there is anything we can do to help, please let us know’, so we thought it would be beneficial for them to have their own form of transport.

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“I set up a Gofundme page and distributed the link on Facebook and among my colleagues and we’ve managed to raise quite a bit of money to cover the cost of the car, the tax and the insurance, so now they are able to get themselves to and from Andover.”

The car is especially important for Olena as it allows her daughter Vika to attend Testbourne Community School in Whitchurch.

Natasha said that, if the war ends and the refugees can return home, the car will be sold, with the proceeds going to charity.

She explained: “If and when, let’s hope when, the situation improves and they can go home, then the intention is that we sell the car and give the proceeds to the DEC (Disasters Emergency Committee) or another Ukrainian supporting charity.

“Whatever is left from the value of the car is going to go towards the same cause.”

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