"I believe that People in Need is the most appropriate organisation to turn to for direct aid in Ukraine. I hope that our contribution in the form of concrete aid will reach those in need as quickly as possible. I am in thoughts with all those who are now suffering in Ukraine and fear the future. In our company we are also organising a collection of additional funds among our employees and preparing other forms of material and logistical assistance," said Karolína Topolová, CEO and Chairman of the Board of AURES Holdings, the operator of the AAA AUTO car centre network.

The company has also announced a cash collection among its employees in all countries where it operates. They can send money either to a collection account on the Donio website (in the Czech Republic and Slovakia) or Zrzutka (in Poland) set up by the company, or to any humanitarian organisation of their choice. "We have decided that for every employee who contributes, we will provide an additional donation in the same amount, over and above our three million aid already provided. Our biggest markets are the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland, the countries that are and will face the largest influx of war refugees from Ukraine," Topolová stressed.

The collection account on Donio website had over 100,000 crowns in the Czech Republic this morning, and 40,000 crowns (€1,600) in Slovakia. In Poland, 8,500 crowns (PLN 1,600) have been collected so far among employees via the Zrzutka server. "We are still collecting data on the donations our employees have made directly to humanitarian organisations or Ukrainian institutions to double it," Topolová said. The company has also offered direct assistance to its employees from Ukraine, for example by providing transport or accommodation. "In Poland, which will be coping with the largest number of refugees, we will buy several vans to use for transporting people and materials," Topolova said.

In addition to financial aid, the company will also provide material assistance. This will consist of a collection of clothes, hygiene items and food, as well as thousands of car first aid kits from the bought cars. In Poland, the company has dispatched cars to border crossings to help with the transport of Ukrainian citizens as well as the handover of the collected aid at the border. In each country, the company has appointed an aid coordinator to collect all offers and ideas for help and coordinate its use. "Hundreds of colleagues are also contacting us with specific suggestions on how they can help as part of their volunteering activities. I would like to thank them all very much for the solidarity they have shown in these difficult times for Ukraine and for Europe as a whole," added Topolova.