A Warminster man has returned from his latest humanitarian mission to Poland, where he delivered vital aid and Christmas presents to Ukrainian children and mothers forced from their homes by the war.
Tommy Sprangle made the journey earlier this month with his neighbour, Alun Maddocks, taking a van packed with donated goods, including five bicycles and gifts for children, to a hostel in Bydgoszcz in northern Poland.
The pair travelled via the overnight ferry from Harwich to the Hook of Holland, but the trip was delayed when Dutch customs officials carried out a full inspection of their load despite official documentation showing it was humanitarian aid.
“They still confiscated 36 litres of long-life milk off us and opened several boxes, including Christmas ones,” said Tommy, previously a community development officer at Warminster Garrison. “It took over two hours and made us late arriving at the hostel.”
Once they reached their destination, the children helped unload the van, and the donations were gratefully received. “The children and mums were overwhelmed with the amount of aid; they were so thankful to everyone who contributed,” said Tommy.
“This was my Christmas trip, taking presents so the children can have a proper Christmas. Seeing the children’s faces makes it all worthwhile, especially knowing what they have been through.”
Local support again proved crucial. The trip was made possible thanks to donations and sponsorship from several Warminster businesses, including C&C Vehicle Repairs, Collis Motors, Direct Response Employment Agency, P&L Motors, Robert’s Vehicle Repairs, Spanners Motor Repairs, The Motorhome Showroom, Tyre 2 You and Wiltshire Raw Dog Food.
Warminster Lions Club sponsored the van for the journey, continuing their long-running support for Tommy’s missions, now numbering 40 since the start of the conflict.
Tommy continues to raise funds through his GoFundMe page to cover costs for future trips at https://www.gofundme.com/f/jmjen-help-ukraine
