13,000 items knitted for Ukraine

Sunday 18 December 2022

The organiser of the campaign to send handmade clothes to babies in Ukraine has confirmed the total number of hats knitted by people in the Bailiwick.

Lilita Kruze - the Honorary Consul for Latvia - asked people to put their needles together earlier this year as the Russian War on Ukraine left many thousands of people displaced from their homes.

She said she felt moved to act after the situation escalated. 

"2022 has been such an unusual year. No one could have imagined that Russia would start its brutal war in Ukraine," she said.

Ms Kruze said she has been so pleased with all of the donations she received in her collection - which is now temporarily closed for Christmas.

"No one could have imagined that we, the people of Guernsey, would pick up knitting needles in solidarity with Ukraine and donate handmade items for newborn babies," she said. "I have pleasure to announce that since March we have donated 12,836 items to Ukraine."

Earlier this week she went to the post office and sent away the last two boxes full of knitted items. She said they were boxes 105 and 106.

"I would like to thank you one and all at Guernsey Post, Waitrose at Admiral Park and Rohais and DHL for your continued support during the last ten months," she said - having been supported in the collection and delivery of the goods by those organisations.

The Newborn Baby Hats Appeal has stopped accepting donations and will start collecting again in January 2023.