THERE are hopes a pop-up café celebrating Scottish-Ukrainian connections in Dollar last week could start a fundraising trend.

Café Ukraine opened for one day only at the home of Dollar resident Alan Smart on St Andrew's Day last Wednesday, November 30, in a bid to raise funds and celebrate the two cultures.

In what was a real community effort, Alan set up his living room to host people for warm drinks and teamed up with Play Alloa, which has been running Sunday sessions for Ukrainians in Clackmannanshire and which brought families and cakes along for the occasion.

As previously reported, Dollar residents have been generously offering up their homes to people fleeing the conflict in Ukraine while Maria Malcolm from Play Alloa has been co-ordinating collections, sessions and other events for those who fled to the Wee County.

Cakes and treats were brought along by both Ukrainians and other Wee County residents for the event with many popping in to pay a visit.

Dollar Academy pupil Callum Campbell was also along to play his pipes to help declare the café open and the event raised some £500 for Play Alloa, which supports children and adults with additional support needs.

Alan, who organised the event with help from many in the community including Dollar Parish Church and the community development trust, told the Advertiser: “There were seven or eight organisations and individuals pulling together quickly for a common cause.

“It was just honestly excellent, I had an expectation which was exceeded by a mile.”

While the pop-up café was a one-off, Alan hopes to host an event for Burns Night in January and is also encouraging people in other communities to hold their own similar events.

He said: “This was a Café Ukraine in Dollar, there is absolutely nothing to stop people taking this basic idea and doing it anywhere in the Wee County or anywhere.

“It's a simple idea.”

Maria Malcolm, senior project manager at Play Alloa, previously opened up to the Advertiser on her proud Ukrainian roots.

She was happy to team up with Alan to help organise the event with Ukrainian members of the Sunday club coming out to the café in numbers and bringing along numerous cakes.

One of the women, a graphic designer, even helped create the logo for the banner hung up outside.

Maria said: “It was a brilliant day, absolutely fantastic.

“The best thing was the warmth from the community, they were so welcoming – it really was fantastic.

“So many of our Ukrainian women came along and helped, it was just brilliant.

“We all ended up bursting into song, it was really lovely.”

The event was not just a chance to give a warm Scottish welcome, it also served as an opportunity to learn about both cultures.

For those who missed the event, but would like to support the people of Ukraine, there is still a chance today to donate to a Christmas appeal.

The Clackmannanshire Ukraine Support Group has been asking for warm clothes, food, hygiene products, sleeping bags, portable gas stoves, power banks, batteries and candles.

The items will be sent to help people in Kharkiv and surrounding areas this winter.

In Dollar, donations can be dropped off at The Hive until Wednesday, December 7 from 9am to 3.30pm.