Newsletter: Feature

from Jamie Mayfield, Larry & Marilyn Griffith, and Anastasia Koshel – UHU Representative

After months, and I really do mean months of our friends Larry and Marilyn trying to get socks and dolls to Ukraine, they finally received a mailing address that would make it to them….we felt it was silly to mail them to the US and put them with our other socks, so they did a separate mailing. You can’t imagine how hard it is to mail something to a war zone….just addressing the envelope was difficult as the language letters are so different from what we are used to. This is a lot of reading, but it’s worth it. Can you imagine? Since the socks we shipped from the US were delivered along with other goods, I am sure we won’t know where they land, but I know in my heart that every person who receives our “foot hugs” will be just as comforted as the folks below….

Jamie Mayfield

FROM LARRY AND MARILYN:

Jamie,

Here is a “FEEL GOOD” letter from the United Help Ukraine representative in Ukraine . We sent her 21 pairs of socks for injured solders, 3 dolls and 3 pairs of enfant socks. You can, if you wish, add this to the quantity of socks sent by YOUR request. You should take a lot of credit for this campaign.

Your Friends

Larry and Marilyn Griffith, France
PS..Photos to follow when we receive them.

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From: Anastasia Koshel 
Date: 27 January 2023 at 20:10:04 CET
To: Larry and Marilyn Griffith 
Subject: Re: Sending small package from France to Ukraine

Dear Larry and Marilyn,

First of all: thank you so much! We have received the package and its contents are on their way to those who need them the most!

I am truly sorry I didn’t respond earlier, but I am literally swamped with work. On top of that, we have blackouts that last for hours, which means everything has to be done while the power is on and results in a very hectic regime.

Some details:

The package was delivered yesterday morning. Ukrposhta actually went out of their way to do their job. Yesterday, Russia launched 55 missiles against Ukraine (none of them hit Lviv, but of course it can’t be known in advance). So, there was an air alarm in the morning; the emergency state lasted for hours. In this period, we also had a power cut. The mailman still drove on his rounds! He had the wrong phone number for me (not your fault, they transcribed it wrong off the package, mistaking a 5 for a 3). He tried calling me repeatedly, but of course couldn’t get through. So he found our address (which is not easy, as the house is set back from the street amid many similar houses, with separate entrances for every apartment) and rang the door. Luckily, we had the generator on, so my husband was able to hear the doorbell. I was still waking up, it was rather early.

The mailman brought the package from his van after making sure he had the right address. But my husband hadn’t been expecting it, and although he confirmed that the name on the package was mine, the mailman insisted that I personally come downstairs to receive it. He wanted to be absolutely sure he wasn’t making a mistake!

The socks and dolls are absolutely stunning! Each is a work of art! Just by looking at them you can see how much love and care went into the making of each item. I took pictures to show my mom (hope you don’t mind!) and to treasure this memory. We were so touched we almost teared up. I cannot express how much it means to us that someone in faraway France took notice of our plight and invested so much time and effort to make these socks and send them. Please know I am speaking for every Ukrainian when I say thank you from the bottom of my heart, dear Marilyn and Larry! You made an anxious day instantly warmer and brighter.

The socks are on their way to Kharkiv, a city in eastern Ukraine that is very close to the frontlines. A friend of mine will personally distribute them to our wounded defenders who are recuperating in a Kharkiv hospital after going back to fight the invaders. I know it will mean a lot to them, too. She will take pictures for me to send to you.

The dolls and the baby socks will likewise be delivered to a home for internally displaced people who have lost their homes. There are a lot of them in Kharkiv. My friend will personally hand them out and tell them where they came from. Know you have made some little kids very happy with your kindness. Of course, she will take pictures there as well.

Once again, I am sorry for my late reply and immensely grateful for your support. God bless you both.

Sincerely yours,
Anastasiya Koshel