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20.03.2023
The initiators of the campaign Knitting in Support of Ukraine thank Latvian needlewomen for their huge support by donating their knitted items to the defenders of Ukraine! As part of the third campaign, from the 6th of February to the 17th of March 2023, Latvian residents have donated and handed over 9,600 kilograms of various knitted items to Latvijas Pasts post offices. This is equivalent to 96,000 pairs of socks, as calculated by the campaign’s organisers from the association Mēs Iecavai. The donated knitwear is further delivered to Ukrainian soldiers, civilians and war refugees by the association Tavi draugi.
The organisers of the campaign – the association Mēs Iecavai and Tavi draugi – and Latvijas Pasts express their greatest gratitude to the supportive Latvian needlewomen and everyone who participated in the donation of knitted items.
"Latvijas Pasts has provided various types of assistance to Ukrainian residents, refugees and civilians since the very beginning of the war. Like most Latvians, we too hope Ukraine will win in the near future, but it doesn’t help Ukraine. Only real, tangible support from us as a company and collectively as a society, can help a nation engulfed in war and the defenders of its freedom. Therefore, I find it very satisfying to see the unselfishness and unwavering desire of our, Latvian, people to help. Let us continue on this path together until the victory of Ukraine!” encourages Mārcis Vilcāns, Chairman of the Board of Latvijas Pasts.
The third campaign Knitting in Support of Ukraine started at Ukraine’s request on the 6th of February 2023 and continued until the 17th of March, calling for donations of socks, gloves, scarves and hats of various types and sizes for adults. During the third campaign, Latvian residents donated and handed over 9,600 kilograms of various knitted items to post offices.
“These socks, which people have sent from near and far parts of Latvia, are not just a piece of clothing that will provide warmth to the war-weary Ukrainian people. It is a symbol of the warmth of the heart of Latvians, faith in the good and willingness to help those in need regardless of one’s income status. In spite of the fact that we sometimes fail to recognise just how generous and empathetic we are, the significant support that the residents of our small country give to Ukraine clearly demonstrates it, and we can be proud of it,” emphasises Lauma Neimane, one of the initiators of the campaign and a representative of the association Mēs Iecavai.
Beāte Bēvalde, a representative of the association Tavi draugi, also highlights the cordiality of the campaign: “Sympathising with others’ sorrows and hardships is not easy. It is easy to say – what a pity – but it is quite another thing to show your sympathy in action. We in the association Tavi draugi see these good deeds every day and know that the people of Latvia are truly ready to support the people of Ukraine with all their hearts. We can only admire the family of Latvian knitters for the enormous patience, care and love with which these items are made. It is our sincere hope that they will warm and inspire the hearts of Ukrainians!”
The knitted items within the campaign Knitting in Support of Ukraine were accepted free of charge in all post offices of Latvijas Pasts and delivered, through the intermediary of Latvijas Pasts, to the association Tavi draugi at 50 Ventspils Street, Riga, from where they were further transported to Ukraine.
The possibility of organising large-scale campaigns in support of Ukraine will also be considered in the future.
Some of the items donated during the campaign Knitting in Support of Ukraine can be viewed here.
After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, three knitting campaigns to support Ukraine have taken place. The first of them started in March 2022, calling for donations of handicrafts of various types and sizes, which are needed by Ukrainian soldiers at the front, civilians in devastated cities and other populated areas, as well as war refugees.
The Knitting in Support of Ukraine campaign’s initiator, coordinator and distributor of the information regarding its progress on TV, in the press, on the radio and on social networks (websites for needlewomen, which have around 27,000 members) is the public organisation Mēs Iecavai.
About SJSC Latvijas Pasts
Latvijas Pasts ensures the widest availability of postal services throughout Latvia by maintaining more than 600 post offices and an extensive network of indoor and outdoor parcel lockers. The primary function of the company is provision of the universal postal service; Latvijas Pasts also provides commercial transport, express mail, parcel locker, payment, press subscription, retail and philatelic services. Latvijas Pasts is a wholly State-owned company with around 2,700 employees. The quality measurements of Latvijas Pasts domestic mail deliveries are regularly conducted by Kantar TNS, one of the leading market, social and media research agencies in Latvia. In turn, the quality measurements of the cross-border deliveries are provided within the framework of the International Post Corporation through the intermediary of the research companies Kantar TNS, Ipsos and Quotas.
Additional information:
Vineta Kļaviņa | Latvijas Pasts
Lauma Neimane | Mēs Iecavai
Laura Luika | Mēs Iecavai
Beāte Bēvalde I Tavi draugi
Ulvis Noviks | Tavi draugi