Albany businessman launches containers for cash fundraiser for people of Ukraine and Australian flood victims

Recyclers can swap their containers for cash to donate to the people of Ukraine and the victims of the NSW and Queensland floods as part of a fundraising initiative from Albany businessman Paul Lionetti.

Mr Lionetti said after seeing communities destroyed over east and families fleeing for their lives in Ukraine, he wanted to find a way to give directly to those on the ground.

He has organised a donation account at Containers for Cash Spencer Park on Hardie Road, where people can choose to put the 10c returned from each donation towards either of the two major crises.

“It’s probably in my DNA to help. I just think this city has been good to us, the world has been good to us, so why not try and help? If you help one person you have achieved,” Mr Lionetti said.

“I think it has touched everybody in the world. It is a war for what?”

Mr Lionetti put out a call on social media to find someone on the ground in Ukraine so the donations could directly help those in need and was connected to former Geraldton man Shane Paxa.

Mr Paxa, a Christian youth worker who was living in Ukraine before Russia’s invasion began, decided to stay in the country and has been distributing food packages to people in need and helping others flee.

Mr Lionetti said all donations for Ukraine would be passed on to Mr Paxa to support his aid on the ground.