A Petersfield resident from Ukraine is helping her people back home through a collection drive.

Iva Repnytska, 46, has been living in town since June 2022 and when the war began, she finishing her studies in Lviv, a city near the border was able to go abroad.

In early autumn, she was approached by a friend from Kyiv who has been volunteering since early February 2022 and asked for help collecting blankets for fellow Ukrainians.

Iva said: “I contacted a carrier company that sends things to Ukraine and they provided me with free shipping on small batches of blankets.

“For some shipments I had to pay because the blankets were large, each shipment cost me £30, but this is my contribution to charity.”

During the last few years, Iva has participated in various events in the community and throughout the UK to help Ukrainians. Such as participating in environmental festivals and selling baskets that she made from used T-Shirts.

Locally, Iva has held various meetings every month for Ukrainians living in the UK with information about jobs and visas.

Since last year, she, Vaughn and her colleagues from Petersfield’s Shine Radio have launched a Ukrainian language podcast called Cold Coffee. It helps Ukrainians adapt and answer important questions and is now listened to by Ukrainians nationwide.

Iva added: “I contacted residents from Petersfield and the surrounding area and they helped me collect blankets and sleeping bags. From September to January 1, we sent more than 50 blankets and sleeping bags.

“It's very cold in Ukraine, sometimes down to minus 20! Thank you Petersfield, you gave me the opportunity to be safe and now together we are saving Ukrainians from the cold.”

If you want to help, send Iva a message on Facebook. The next collection is on January 18 from 10am to 4pm at the British Red Cross in Petersfield.