Newborn Baby Hats Appeal needs knitting equipment

THE Newborn Baby Hats Appeal is in the process of expanding its activities, just over a year since its inception, as it asks islanders to donate knitting equipment.

Carolyne Stoaling, left, has knitted about 400 garments for the Newborn Baby Hats Appeal. Pictured with her is Lilita Kruze, the charity’s founder. The two have recently been sourcing 4mm knitting needles as well as double knitting yarn and are asking islanders to donate any spares at Health Connections on Smith Street. (32067248)

Started in March 2022 by Lilita Kruze, the project has seen more than 18,000 newborn baby knitted items sent to hospitals and charities in Ukraine to support those affected by the war.

Initially a large number of islanders in Guernsey and Alderney got crafted wool hats, and soon expanded into cardigans, mittens, booties, toys, comforters and blankets.

‘The public response was incredibly high from the beginning, and very soon I took steps to set up collection points at both Waitrose shops and numerous churches, including St Saviour’s, Castel, St Matthew’s and Vale,’ said Ms Kruze.

The operation has now grown, with a core team of seven people and has seen special knitting groups set up within the Bailiwick including the Guernsey Busy Bees Knit and Natter group, U3A knitting section and Saumarez Park Manor Residential Home.

The number of islanders knitting for the appeal is expected to be in the hundreds.

It is now asking for donations of four millimetre knitting needles and double knitting yarn, to be dropped off at Health Connections in Smith Street.

The popularity and growth of the appeal has also led to the preparation of 25 knitting kits for its Blanket Project due to start later this month.

It will see the kits placed at several Health & Social Care sites following a successful trial period of kits in the staff recreation area.

Four blankets were made by HSC employees.

The items are shipped by the Guernsey Post Office and DHL to Kyiv Regional Perinatal Centre, Zhytomyr Regional Perinatal Centre and to Riga Maternity Hospital as well as charities 280 Days in Ukraine and Labdaribas Lapa in Latvia to support Ukrainian war refugees.

‘In the first months of the war, a large number of Ukrainians fled their country.

‘As we know, people settled in temporary residences in neighbouring countries like Poland and Romania, for example,’ said Ms Kruze, who is honorary consul of the Republic of Latvia in Guernsey.

‘Other countries also offered asylum to war refugees, and Latvia was one of them. There are currently more than 35,000 Ukrainian refugees registered in Latvia.’

Health Connections on Smith Street is open from 10am to 4pm Monday to Thursday and 10am to 5pm Friday and Saturday.

. The appeal’s Facebook page is bit.ly/44iooCm.