Numerous fundraising events to aid people in Ukraine are taking place in Cork and Kerry this weekend.
In Cork city, Bus Éireann drivers are hosting a Fill-a-Bus appeal for the Ukraine in Douglas.
They are looking for first aid kits, sleeping bags, toiletries and baby items which will be distributed by volunteers to those in need near the Polish border later this month.
Local Bus Éireann drivers Derry O'Shea and John Barry have been delivering shipments of aid to orphanages in Belarus since 2015.
Every year they fundraise locally and drive trucks with donated goods over 5,000km from Cork to Belarus to local orphanages impacted by the Chernobyl nuclear incident.
They are appealing to the public for help to collect supplies for those affected by the war in Ukraine, which they intend to deliver to the Polish border later this month.
They will be at the bus shelter outside Douglas Court Shopping Centre between 10am and 3pm today.
In west Cork, 38 pallets of humanitarian supplies for Ukraine raised since last Tuesday have left Bandon by truck this morning heading to Rosslare and onwards to the Poland.
Paidi Twomey, a retired international truck driver from Cúil Aodha in mid-Cork has come out of retirement to bring the humanitarian supplies raised following an appeal by Bandon's Twomey Precision Engineering and the Cracked Cafe - to the border.
Their truck got a place on tonight's evening ferry thanks to another offering them his place.
Mighty men!
— JennïeØSullivân (@OSullivanJennie) March 5, 2022
Paidi Twomey & his sons Kevin & Paul from Cúil Aodha with Tomás Hughes from Galway en route to the Polish border with Ukraine bringing humanitarian aid incl batteries & medical supplies from west Cork #WestCorkUkraineAppeal @RTEnews pic.twitter.com/Avbj1Hw50q
In Charleville in north Cork, final donations are being accepted today at St Mary's Secondary School ahead of a lorry due to depart tomorrow with some 33 pallets of supplies raised by the local community.
Teacher Marion Buckley says that when local Ukrainian families began collecting supplies this week, they offered their hall for storage with students, parents and teachers all involved in the sorting and packing of boxes for transport tomorrow.
Ms Buckley says the response from the community has been overwhelming.
In Co Kerry, several collections are taking place today, among the county's largest is at the Methodist Church on Countess Road in Killarney between midday and 5pm where donations of blankets, sleeping bags, sanitary products, dry foods, and baby food are all welcome.
Hoare Machinery in Killorglin also organised collections of humanitarian goods.
On social media, Tim Hoare thanked everyone who gave up their time over the last couple of days.
"We were overwhelmed by the support. So many people helped to pack, organise and transport all the supplies to Tralee where the lorries will take everything to Poland/Ukraine. We hope there is (an) end to this madness very soon".
In Blennerville, St Patricks GAA Club have announced that they will use the Club Lotto draw to raise funds this weekend to donate to UNICEF Humanitarian Aid appeal for Ukraine.
In a post on social media, the club said that "St Pats has a very vibrant structure for young children and teenagers to enjoy and develop their friendships and football skills within the safety of their club. In contrast, the scenes we are now witnessing from Ukraine particularly those affecting children are very upsetting. The Club has decided to support the appeals for humanitarian aid for Ukraine by donating all monies raised through the weekly lotto draw this weekend to UNICEF".
There will also be a public vigil for Ukraine in the Square, Tralee at 3pm today where people are being asked to wear blue and yellow, the colours of Ukraine, to show their support.
