The Parish Magazine May 2022
Serving the communities of Charvil, Sonning & Sonning Eye since 1869
Serving the communities of Charvil, Sonning & Sonning Eye since 1869
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
22 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>May</strong> <strong>2022</strong><br />
THE WAR IN UKRAINE<br />
'With tears in my eyes and happiness in my heart…'<br />
Responding to the plight of millions of Ukrainians, Twyford resident Debbie Martin (above left), began organising donations of<br />
everyday items that could be sent to Ukraine in a lorry. As we went to press, lorry number 9 had arrived in Folkestone! Each lorry<br />
has between £50,000 to £60,000 worth of donations made by local people. On lorry number 8, which will be driven into West<br />
Ukraine — Lviv and Rivne — was the enormous collection of 'smiles in shoeboxes' (above left) that included gifts and toys for<br />
children. <strong>The</strong>y will then be transported on smaller vehicles and taken where they are very much needed. Here, Debbie tells the<br />
moving story of one of the gifts that had been sent to Ukraine on an earlier lorry . . .<br />
With tears in my eyes and happiness in my heart… Someone kindly gave me Polly<br />
during the early donations. Before Polly was sent to Ukraine, I wrote my email<br />
address on the back of the luggage tag asking if the receiver was able to let me know<br />
that Polly had arrived safely and had found her way into the arms of a child.<br />
I never thought in a million years that I would hear anything, but it is with so much<br />
joy I can share with you all that Polly is safely in the arms of Mariia. Below is the<br />
translation from the amazing letter Mariia has sent me.<br />
Hello dear friend!<br />
I am Nataly. Recently my niece received a gift from you and asked me to help her with sending<br />
a letter to you.<br />
'Hi Debbie!<br />
My name is Mariia. I am 6 years old. I am from Ukraine. Thank you for Polly! I really like it. I<br />
named it Polina [Ukrainian version of the name 'Polly']. When the war is over, I will be glad if<br />
you come to visit me."<br />
Debbie, all Ukrainian people and I personally really appreciate your support and support<br />
from people all over the world. Thanks to such wonderful and careful people we are still alive<br />
and hopefully we will survive in this cruel and senseless war where too many innocent people<br />
are dying every day. I really hope that this madness will be over soon.<br />
Just let me know if some day you decide<br />
to visit Ukraine. We will be happy to show<br />
you our beautiful country.<br />
Stay safe and healthy.<br />
Best wishes from Mariia and Nataly<br />
Look at the difference we are making<br />
— it's never too late to donate and if<br />
anyone would like to donate a small teddy<br />
with a message on a luggage tag let me<br />
know!<br />
debbiemrtn4@gmail.com<br />
#westandwithukraine<br />
Left: Mariia's letter to Debbie<br />
Right: Mariia with Polina (Polly the doll)<br />
Right above: Polly before being shipped to Ukraine
Change language