Spectra sent out an initial appeal via email and social media post at lunchtime requesting a list of useful items as donations. Later that afternoon, Spectra employees had already gone out to buy many of the items on the list, bringing them in before their evening shift had started.
There have been hundreds of donations of clothes, blankets, medical supplies, baby items, food and drink, batteries, clothes, waterproofs, financial contributions, and much more over the past couple of weeks. Such was the overwhelming demand to help; Spectra even received several telephone calls from other collection points inundated with donations, many of whom dropped items off at their site due to a lack of space. Indeed, Spectra has been overwhelmed with the number of items brought in, with boxes and bags taking up multiple rooms in the factory, some of which are now totally full.
Fast forward to Wednesday 16th March, Spectra staff pulled together to help Managing Director, Joe Maynard, and his family load his van with all the donations in readiness to be taken to a depot in Loddon where they will be shipped to Ukraine for those desperately in need. All financial contributions will be taken to the White Horse in Loddon, with the government agreeing to match all funds.
Joe said, “We have always strived as a business to help those less fortunate than ourselves. We are committed to operating as a socially responsible business and are mindful of the communities around us and our obligation to contribute positively to society. It’s truly humbling to see our staff, our community and our country pulling together to support the people and families of Ukraine during this horrendous time.”
If you would like to get involved and donate, staff and members of the community can bring donations to our reception and we will gladly take them in. We are open Monday – Thursday 8am – 5pm or Friday 8am – 4pm. We are located in Halesworth, Suffolk, IP19 8RX. Thank you everyone for your support, our thoughts are with Ukraine. 
Items we are collecting: (Please note we are no longer accepting clothes, sleeping bags or blankets)
• Paracetamol & Ibuprofen
• Nappies
• Shower gel
• Cold/Flu treatment
• Thermals
• Antiseptic cream
• Socks
• Bandages
• Fingerless mittens
• Sterile dressings
• Head-work lights
• Heavy denier tights
• Multivitamins
• Spanners
• First Aid Kits
• Socket sets
• Lozenges
• Tow ropes
• Vicks vapour rub
• Jump leads
• Barrier cream
• Toothbrushes & Toothpaste
• Food/drink
• Spear fuses
• Protein bars
• Pliers
• 3 in 1 coffee sachets
• Torches
• Small packs of nuts/raisins
• Waterproof groundsheets
• Crunchy peanut butter in plastic jars
• Dry-bags – dark colours
• Sanitary pads
• Snoods
• Surgical tape
• Warm shoe liners
• Wound closure strips
• AA batteries
• Screwdrivers
• Cough syrup
• Basic £1 reading glasses
• Mini gas stoves
• Wet wipes
• Cup-a-soups
