Thornbury Benefice has joined forces with the local community and is continuing its support for people living in war-torn areas of Ukraine, providing essential supplies and Christmas messages with the cross-community ‘Van collection for Ukraine’ appeal.
Its twelfth supply-filled minibus departs this month, ensuring that practical aid, and a reminder of the Thornbury community’s support, arrives just in time for Christmas.
The bus contains essentials that are hard to find in Ukraine, including candles, warm socks and vitamins, and local Ukrainians have written 100 Christmas cards with handwritten messages in Ukrainian.
“For the people here, it’s a way they can show their support,” said Jacquie Rinaldi, a member of the Ukrainian initiative. “People living in Ukraine face extended power outages and need items like candles to survive. Men on the front line have poor diets, living on packet noodles, and they need vitamins and medicine.
“We tuck the Christmas cards in with the supplies so families in Ukraine find these notes as they go through the boxes. It’s a reminder they’re not forgotten.”
This year’s journey faces additional challenges due to the rising costs of petrol and insurance. For the first time, they appealed for cash donations, and raised over £600.
“Our Ukrainian guests have become our friends and neighbours. We get to support them through Christmas, a time when they’d usually be surrounded by family.”
Key to this effort is Thornbury’s partnership with BristolAid4Ukraine, a charity founded by Ukrainian Vera Stadon-Postavska and her husband, John. Their organisation arranges safe passage for the minibus, filled with donated supplies from Thornbury, to leave from Bristol to Stadon-Postavska’s home community in Ukraine.
“We chose a minibus so it could be fully loaded on the way in and not return empty. Those with the paperwork in place, who are either injured or need to get out, can come back.”
The Ukrainian Initiative began in 2021 when a group of local volunteers recognised the need for support as refugees arrived in Thornbury.
“Thornbury isn’t like Bristol or Gloucester – it’s a small town. We weren’t prepared at first, but the effort has evolved into a truly community-driven initiative, many local groups and churches contribute to the cause. The Methodist church now serves as a twice-weekly meeting space where Ukrainians can gather, share meals, and pick up essential supplies. The URC has donated a social room where Ukrainians meet every Friday, often joined by a recently formed Ukrainian ukulele band for practice.”
The community continues to grow, with over 70 Ukrainian people still awaiting accommodation in Thornbury.
For those interested in supporting the initiative, donations can be made by contacting Jacquie Rinaldi at .moc.1733530464liamg1733530464@1idl1733530464anir.1733530464eiuqc1733530464aj1733530464
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