Mother sends breastfeeding products to Poland to help Ukrainian mothers
Emily Page used Instagram to rally support for her cause as the number of Ukrainian women and children entering Poland rises.
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Your support makes all the difference.A mother has used her Instagram page to raise donations for breastfeeding products to send to Ukrainian mothers seeking refuge in Poland.
Emily Page, 35, the owner of Mama’s Milk, an independent business selling breastfeeding accessories, and a breastfeeding specialist, wanted to help Ukrainian mothers who she found out were “hiding in basements and in the subway” from the news, spurred on by her maternal instincts.
The Ministry of Defence reported on March 2 that more than 660,000 civilians have been displaced because of the invasion of Ukraine, with many of them being women and children.
I can't imagine being separated with my daughter from my partner in a situation like that, having to leaving him behind in a country at war and having to flee for your life with your children, it's horrifying.
Ms Page, who has one daughter, Foxx, three and is based in Lincoln, told the PA news agency: “I find it really difficult to watch the news without crying.
“You can’t imagine yourself being in that situation.
“I can’t imagine being separated with my daughter from my partner in a situation like that, having to leaving him behind in a country at war and having to flee for your life with your children, it’s horrifying.
“My first immediate thoughts were how are they feeding their babies? Where are they getting their clean water from?
“I was desperately thinking of something I could do. I didn’t have lots and lots of money that I could donate, but I did have some stock in my business.”
She used her Instagram platform, @mamas.mlik, in particular the Stories function, to discuss with her followers how they could help those in Ukraine on February 25.
She asked her followers, “if I put my stock up for sale for donations for you to purchase, I’ll match each product that somebody else buys.
“You buy one, I’ll donate one.”
Collectively, the group have packaged up silicone breast pumps, reusable breast pads, breast milk collection shells and nipple shields, from Ms Page’s stock, as well as hand sanitizer and sanitary products which she bought from shops.
She added that when visiting a B&M to buy sanitary products, the manager “did give me 10% off the shop”.
In order to make sure the products reached Poland, Ms Page teamed up with Bridge To Unity, a community interest company who created a crowdfunder on February 25 to purchase and deliver medical supplies and are to travel to Poland between Friday March 4 and Saturday March 5.
“One of my followers actually recommended Bridge To Unity to me, so I messaged them straight away.”
The products were collected from Ms Page’s home on Tuesday March 1 and delivered to Bridge To Unity the following day, and are due to arrive in Poland on Sunday March 6.
Ms Page has said she hopes to continue supporting Ukrainians through donations when she gets more stock.