Shoes for Soldiers Collected for Ukrainian War
An appeal for boots and shoes to ship out to the Ukraine war was issued from the church communities in Neath and Bro Noddfa Newydd ministry areas.
Glenys Jones (pictured right) is an Area Coordinator for Blythswood Care, working with charities and community groups in the UK and abroad to resource appeals across the world. She has been doing chairty work for 31 years. The footwear appeal came from the Bryn Ukraine Support Group (one of Glenys' connections) and asked for boots and shoes to ship out to Ukraine in support of the soldiers there who are said to be fighting the conflict in flip flops as seen in some videos online.
There was an immediate response from the church community in St Catwg's juxta Neath and this has also now been extended to the Bro Noddfa Newydd M.A.
Social Justice and Outreach Lead for the Diocese of Llandaff, Christoph Auckland said, “I am in awe of the communities here in Wales working tirelessly to meet the ongoing needs of Ukrainians, both those serving in Ukraine and those sadly displaced by the war. The industrious dedication of the St Catwg’s Purl and Pray group, and the humbling organisation and commitment of the Bryan Ukrainian Support Group, is a testament to the missional heart of the Bro Noddfa.”
The Ukrainian Footwear initiative is just the latest in collections for communities abroad and locally in Neath and Bro Noddfa Newydd. The St Catwg's Purl and Pray group have generated over 200 hand-knitted blankets and also baby knitwear, hats, scarves and gloves for the Shoebox Appeal which continues through the year.
In the photograph, you will see a collection of blankets, scarves, and cot blankets made by St Catwg's Purl and Pray group in conjunction with associated community groups including the Cadoxton Branch of the Friends of the Hospital and Catwg Womens’ Institute.
Reader Bro Nodda Newydd Ministry Area Annette Williams (pictured left) said, “I facilitate St Catwg's Purl and Pray group and they are prolific in their blanket and knitwear output! Thankfully, a mutual friend connected me to Glenys Jones who receives our items and then forwards them to places in need home and abroad. The footwear appeal came from Bryn Ukraine Support Group which is one of her outlets. However, they were inundated and the appeal for footwear has ended.”
Regarding future fundraisers, Annette said the group will keep knitting with the intention to give to people in need rather than to generate fund. Their yarn-based projects will include knitting smaller items for the Shoebox Appeal, another initiative underpinned by Glenys.