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White Eagle Appeal for Ukraine

1903. Magda Harvey

Magda Harvey, from London, runs the ‘Polish White Eagle Club’ in Balham which has become a huge community hub for donations supporting the humanitarian response in Ukraine.

Magda Harvey

Magda, who was born in Poland, posted online about donating to help families in Ukraine a day after the Russian invasion in February 2022. She was quickly overwhelmed by the generosity of the public, with hundreds of people queuing for hours outside the community centre to donate essential items. Mobilising a team of volunteers, Magda has since scaled up operations to ensure over one thousand tonnes of items such as food and drink, medical supplies, torches, blankets, baby products, and other essentials are sent directly to people in Ukraine, working with the international charity Caritas, the Polish Embassy and the Ukrainian Government to direct aid to where it is most needed. She is also setting up a registered charity to provide ongoing humanitarian support to people in Ukraine and refugees.

Magda received her award from Prime Minister Boris Johnson during a visit to 10 Downing Street to share how the White Eagle Appeal is contributing to the Ukraine humanitarian response (pictured below with the Prime Minister, and outside Downing Street with Kateryna Frolova, a volunteer at the Balham Polish Club. Photo Credit: Simon Dawson / No10 Downing Street).

Magda Harvey receiving her Points of Light award from Prime Minister Boris Johnson

Magda Harvey and Kateryna Frolova of the Polish White Eagle Club outside 10 Downing Street

Watch below about how the White Eagle Club is making a difference for people in Ukraine:

See more about how to support the White Eagle Appeal

The daily Points of Light award recognises outstanding individual volunteers - people who are making a change in their community.

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