Scot saved Christmas for 600 orphans who fled Ukraine by delivering gifts from Santa

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A Scot saved Christmas for hundreds of orphans who fled war-torn Ukraine by ensuring they had presents to open from Santa.Gavin Menzies has continuously visited Ukraine and Poland since the conflict broke out to supply vital aid, such as clothes and medical supplies, to displaced orphans.The 36-year-old, from Ratho in Edinburgh, raised just over £11,000 to support kids from Odessa evacuated to Poland following the illegal invasion by Russia.Gavin learned more than 600 orphans from the Black Sea port city staying in Poland had written up Christmas lists which those caring for them couldn’t fulfil.With Christmas approaching, he sprung into action to raise funds to deliver gifts to the youngsters.Gavin, who runs a holiday camp, Games at the Gate and the High Flyers Basketball Academy in Edinburgh, was initially given 19 Santa lists to try and help with, but soon found people’s generosity allowed him to do more.He told Edinburgh Live: “I reached out to a few organisations that I’d been doing my masters Play Therapy placements with and without hesitation, parents began offering to purchase gifts for the initial 19 children whose Santa lists I’d been sent.

These gifts ranged from dolls, toy cars, painting and crafting sets and some games.“I then got help from singer songwriter Heidi Talbot who got the Ratho Village Children’s Folk Choir to sing the song Silent Night.

This was put up on Spotify with all proceeds going to the Orphans of Ukraine.“The Rotary Club of Currie and Balerno and the Pentland Ukrainian Support Group combined, provided me with a further £1,500 which meant I was able to purchase enough board games and toys for a further 600 orphans, all living within this displaced community.“It meant that they would have