A mum-of-three from Merseyside has been inspired to send vans full of donations to Ukraine following a touching act of kindness from her 11-year-old daughter.

Laura Thomas, 32, from Ainsdale, decided to try to help after watching images of fathers saying goodbye to their families “not knowing if they would see them again”.

She said: “No child should be made to feel like that, my 11-year-old daughter just started bagging up her teddies and said, ‘mum, ask other people to bring teddies’.”

Laura, who runs a catering business, wrote about what she was doing on Facebook and got in touch with a Liverpool-based community organisation collecting donations for Ukraine.

Mum-of-three Laura Thomas with donations heading to Ukraine. Photo: Laura Thomas

She said: “We’ve already sent one van of donations and we’re sending another.

“I’ve never done anything like this before, but if what we’re doing can help just one person and make them smile it will have been worth it.

“I truly believe that if you can’t be anything else in this world then be kind. I have felt emotions in my heart I never knew I had doing this.

Moving acts of kindness

Laura said: “A lady burst into tears as she arrived at my house and put her bags in the pile.

“She then went home and took all the cushions off her couch and brought them to me because she thought they might be used as something to sleep on. She said she could get a new sofa.

“There was a gentleman who donated his late wife’s belongings.

A van full of donations from local people. Photo: Laura Thomas

“These are examples of the generosity of people.”

Laura has been in touch with churches across Ainsdale an said she would like to set up a hub with drivers to keep donations going long term.

“We are extremely lucky and get to continue with our daily lives, people in Ukraine need help,” she said.

Merseyside mum inspired to aid Ukraine after daughter’s touching act of kindness

Moving acts of kindness