Open invite to Laois reception tonight for Ukraine refugees
All Laois people interested in meeting and helping Ukrainian war refugees are invited to a reception this Friday, March 25.
Portlaoise Parish Centre will host the information event at 8pm.
Some of the many Ukraine families who have already arrived to safety in Laois will be there, along with local Gardaí and Minister Sean Fleming.
It is organised by Portlaoise volunteer John O'Neill from Newpark and originally Stradbally, a peace commissioner who is a driver for Minister of State Sean Fleming.
He has become a frontline contact for the new Ukraine community in the town, purely by wanting to help.
John told the Leinster Express how the war displaced people are being welcomed in Laois.
"A huge crowd is coming in daily, hotels and private houses are being all fantastic, the Gardaí are helping by escorting them around. Laois Integration Network are planning English classes, Laois County Council has been in contact too to help. The people of Laois and Portlaoise have been extremely kind, making people very welcome.
"People are just turning up at my door giving food tokens, one man apologised to me for only giving a €200 voucher because he had given money elsewhere.
"Anybody can come along, it's an information night, we will have a Ukrainian interpreter present," he said.
John himself was asked to help by one Ukrainian work colleague and it has snowballed since.
"The phone hasn't stopped ringing. I am trying to help people with getting housing, PPS numbers and we have to be careful where we place them too. While 99.9% of people have good intentions, we have to vet them," he said.