On Tuesday 22 March, a van filled to the roof with items collected for the Brno for Ukraine initiative left from the Rector’s Office of Masaryk University. A few hours later another fully loaded van also departed from the University Campus in Bohunice.
Masaryk University collected 75 bags containing bedding, blankets, sleeping bags, and sleeping pads; 29 mattresses; and 4 cots. It also sent to the refugee aid centre 90 crates containing personal hygiene products, such as shampoo, shower gel, toothbrushes, toothpaste, children’s toiletries, and nappies. These items were collected last week from Tuesday to Friday.
“We truly appreciate that the university gathered in such a short amount of time such a great number of things, moreover, items that were in high demand – the things that people arriving from Ukraine need the most. On top of that, the items we received from the university were perfectly sorted and labelled,” says Helena Ondřejová from the Brno for Ukraine initiative, adding that thanks to this excellent organization some of the collected goods could go directly to the Regional Centre for Help and Assistance to Ukraine at the Brno Exhibition Centre.
Volunteers from MUNI HELPS and employees of the University Campus in Bohunice, the Faculty of Sports Studies, and the Rector’s Office helped collect, sort, and pack these items. “Over the course of four days, 25 volunteers were in and out of our storerooms. It was a difficult few days, but we are glad that the aid we collected went immediately to where it is needed most,” says one of the coordinators, Hana Lukášová from the External Relations and Marketing Division of the Rector’s Office.
Not only did individual employees donate items, but entire departments and divisions from across Masaryk University collected money to purchase the most-needed supplies. The Faculty of Natural Sciences donated brand new duvets, and the Rector’s Office, dozens of new inflatable mattresses.
Bryan Felber, an American student of English language and literature at the Faculty of Arts, was one of many who donated items. He is in his second year at MU, and when he found out that the university was collecting things for Ukrainians, he immediately got in touch with his family and friends. They all contributed money, and Bryan donated more than 10,000 crowns worth of items.
You can still help Ukrainian students and academics by donating money through Masaryk University to support educational and humanitarian efforts. You can make a donation through the MUNI Shopping Centre. You can find out how much money has been collected so far on the MUNI HELPS website.