BBC News - 20th January 2024
Towcester twins with Ukraine city in 'emotional moment'
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Towcester Ukraine Aid Efforts from March 2022 to date
Since the illegal invasion of Ukraine by Russia on 24th February 2022, Towcester and the surrounding villages has proactively supported the people of Ukraine. Together they have hosted and aided many families who had to quickly leave their homes, often with just one or two holdall bags. Many of these families still remain in Towcester, having now gained employment and made their own homes here until it is deemed safe for them to return to Ukraine.
Collections led through St Lawrence Church in Towcester and the Tove Benefice of churches has delivered huge amounts of humanitarian and medical aid into Ukraine. This initially started with the collection of over 20 tons of humanitarian aid in early March 2022; by default, acting as the West Northants collection hub and helping to fill lorries in Northampton which were destined for Ukraine cities that had been subject to heavy bombings. Since then, 6 deliveries from the local area (20 vehicles to date) full of humanitarian aid and specialist medical items have been undertaken to a trusted volunteer network based in Lviv, Ukraine. The vehicles are left in Ukraine for military and emergency evacuation purposes and have included two ex-NHS ambulances filled with donated medical and rehabilitation items to assist those wounded in the war. Each of these drives has been co-organised and driven by Ukraine national, Oleh Naida, who came to Towcester in July 2022 to rejoin with his wife and 3 young children who had fled to the safety of Towcester a few months earlier. Oleh, originally from the town of Zhydachiv, has been a key figure in ensuring the success of each drive, and that the vehicles and aid reach their trusted volunteer network in Ukraine. Most recently Oleh assisted with the onward delivery of these vehicles to frontline units in some of the most dangerous areas, including Kharkiv in the far east and Kherson to the south. In all driving in excess of 3000 miles within the same week.
An online photobook of our collective efforts can be found here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/195150915@N04/albums/with/72177720297158488
Local aid efforts continue to support those affected by the war, with Oleh and the Tove Benefice team planning to take out a further Ambulance / Emergency Evacuation Vehicle to Ukraine this Spring. In addition, they will be supporting the rehabilitation of those wounded or traumatised by the war.
If you would like to help contribute to these incredible aid efforts, you can do so here.
All enquiries / offers of assistance can be made by calling the Tove Benefice Office on 01327 350459.
With thanks to all those who support, and prayers for all those affected by war around the world.
Revd Paula Challen, Steve Challen, & Oleh Naida
If you would like to see photos taken during those 4 days please click here or in the image above.
