King's Lynn Learning Resources toy firm supports Ukraine families via donations

With thousands of children and families gravely affected by the conflict in Ukraine, Lynn-based award-winning educational toy company Learning Resources is providing support in numerous ways.

Along with financial support, the company is sending a number of educational toys and activity sheets translated into Ukrainian to help thousands of refugee children who are in desperate need of resources in their native language.

The company is supporting relief efforts through United Hatzalah of Israel, a non-profit emergency response organisation currently aiding families fleeing the war in Ukraine with medical help, psychological support, supplies, medicine, and food. The company’s UK office has also raised money for the British Red Cross serving Ukraine. Through employee donations and financial support from the company, Learning Resources is providing contributions totalling over £34,000.

A special projects team has also been set up to create local language, free educational worksheets working with partners located in the UK and Ukraine as well as Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania.

These partners have offered to help by translating and distributing the content, informing others of its availability, and supplying toy donations of their own. The translated activity sheets will be available online and also delivered through local relief organisations serving in the region.

“The war in Ukraine created a massive humanitarian crisis for thousands of families and children. Our team has a sense of urgency to offer meaningful support during this difficult time,” said Rick Woldenberg, CEO of Learning Resources.

“With the help of our employees, partners, and local distributors, some of which are in Ukraine and the surrounding areas, we sprang into action. Our hope is to inspire others with our initiatives and support thousands of children and families in dire need right now.”

“We are so grateful to you and your employee fundraising team,” said a representative of United Hatzalah. “We sent a chartered El-Al flight to Ukraine last week with thousands of pounds of medical supplies, a team of volunteer medics and doctors, and were able to send 150 refugees to safety in Israel. Thank you for also letting us know about your UK efforts and being on the front lines of this humanitarian crisis. The work you are doing on behalf of Ukrainian children will enrich their lives forever."

Taking this effort even further, Centrum Metody Krakowskiej, a partner in Poland, will be translating the educational worksheets into Polish for language training, and Learning Resources is encouraging customers in Hungary, Slovakia, and Romania to do the same.

Centrum Metody Krakowskiej is planning language workshops for Ukrainian children as well as special help for children with developmental disorders and autism. In certain border areas, local partners including Edu Class in Romania will distribute the translated activity sheets and donate toys via non-profit relief organisations active in refugee camps.

Learning Resources is also working to send their toys to displaced families in the region. Sister company Educational Insights is supporting a private organisation that is sending a cargo plane filled with supplies for Ukrainian refugees. After hearing of this initiative, Educational Insights rushed to supply a range of language-free educational toys for this special mission. Other in-kind donations are being explored with European partners.

“It's our mission to bring learning to life,” said Woldenberg. “This is what we do. We could not ignore the call to action of the crisis in Ukraine and surrounding areas.”

All of the new educational activity sheets will be available on www.learningresources.co.uk.

* Learn more about the company’s campaign with United Hatzalah.

* Donate to the British Red Cross DEC Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal.