Many years ago, 2000-2002 to be precise, our owner Ian Lucas visited Ukraine several times as part of a project to send humanitarian aid to the Sumy region. The area was struggling to re-adjust following the fall of the Soviet Union, and through a local charity they helped distribute aid to the region. At one point a town wide campaign was organised for second hand shoes (with collection points around the town), resulting in some 20,000 pairs being taken there on the next trip!
Those days were tough for the local people. Very little physical infrastructure, certainly no welfare state and extraordinary levels of poverty.
Ian says 'We were helping to build a community centre to be used as a Church, School, Foodbank, Creche, Music School and Bakery! Over the last few years this facility has been very widely used by hundreds and thousands of people in the community. However, in the last few days we have heard (and seen pictures) that the windows and doors have been blown out following a bomb blast over the street.
'These are desperate times. Extraordinary resilience in some who have no intention of ever leaving their homes, knowing that even if they survive, life will never be the same and the rebuild will take decades. Others trying to flee, as this area in the Sumy Oblast (North East region), was supposed to be a safe passage out of the country. As we know this never came to fruition and the town is now suffering bombing on a daily basis.
'Back then there was so much hope, and no-one could have predicted what they are going through now.
Hope Lebedyn is a locally based Christian charity which sends humanitarian aid and funds which can be used to support local people.
'But the needs now are very different. Survival is the main driver.
Funds are difficult to get out and even when they do get through there is little to buy. Food is running out and there’s snow on the ground. With Putin seemingly determined to not give up until this beautiful land is razed to the ground, the need to gather funds to send to help has never been greater and that is why we, in our small way, are contributing by creating a bouquet based on the Ukraine flag, a proportion of which will go to this hugely important cause.
'While we are able to celebrate Mothers Day in peace, our hearts go out to those who cannot be together with their nearest and dearest, and don’t know when they will, or indeed what tomorrow may bring.