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The founder of a knitting group that has sent homemade baby items to Ukraine since it was invaded by Russia in 2022 has praised the efforts of local knitters who contributed.
Lilita Krūze, of the Newborn Baby Hats Appeal, has thanked local creative men and women who have contributed their time and skills this year, making and distributing thousands of children's items.
In a statement thanking those who have helped from Guernsey and futher afield, Ms Krūze announced that over 38,000 items have now been made and sent to Ukraine and Latvia since the group was launched.
Pictured: Children's knitted items have been continuously sent to Ukraine over two years.
"As we are wrapping up 2024, I would like to say a BIG THANK YOU to all the creative ladies and gentleman across the Bailiwick of Guernsey, Scotland and Wales who have supported us this year and made such beautiful items to send to Ukraine and Latvia.
"It is with great joy and pleasure to let you know that since March 2022 we have received and sent 38,755 items", she added.
Having started with hats, the group now makes clothes and toys which have been sent to various places including maternity hospitals and charities in the region such as Kyiv Regional Perinatal Centre, Zhytomyr Regional Perinatal Centre, Kyiv Maternity Hospital no 1.
Charitable fund 280 Days in Ukraine, a dementia home, Mežciems, and Latvian charities Labdarības Lapa and Tavi Draugi have also received some of the 38,000 knitted goods.
Extending her thanks to local distribution company DHL Express Guernsey who have been providing and sending the packages abroad for free.
"We wouldn’t have been able to achieve this without DHL Express Guernsey," she added.
She continued with thanking individual committee members and volunteers who have devoted "incredibly long hours", sorting, packing and transporting the goods as well as those who empty donation boxes around Guernsey.
Pictured: The knitting group also make clothes and toys to send to Ukraine
"Our joint success would be unimaginable without the knitting groups, who day after day, week after week, month after month with greatest love and sincerity create amazingly beautiful blankets, cardigans, toys and other items for the babies," Ms Krūze continued.
She then concluded her thanks with the various church leaders who have been "welcoming from the beginning" and have housed the knitting groups to meet since the appeal started.
The Newborn Baby Hats Appeal is continuing into 2025 and collections will begin again on Monday 6 January, Ms Krūze said.
The collection points are at Waitrose Admiral Park and various churches including Rohais, Castel, St Matthew’s, St Saviour’s, Torteval and Vale.
To find out more about the appeal and the work they do, you can visit their Facebook page.
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