St Mary’s Knitting Group has so far amassed 48 Dignity Bags seen pictured packed in banana boxes, ready to be dispatched to refugees in Syria, via Samara’s Aid Appeal. Hopefully 12 more will be put together by the time they have to go off to the depot in Worthing on January 25, ready for shipment to the refugee camps.
The back pack type bags are made and filled with essential personal hygiene items for women and girls in the refugee areas to enable them to maintain a sense of dignity.
Many bags have been completed by individuals (with special thanks to Seana Lanigan’s colleagues at Argos Media for their amazing effort to help us), but a vast number of people have contributed lots of various contents, making it possible to make up the others. Special thanks to two of our local shops: Vanessa at Savia Gift and Framing for providing lovely soap bars, and Dilys at Harlequin for donating beautiful material to send with sewing kits.
Certainly not least are the ladies who made the splendid bags. It has been a wonderful community effort, and much more has been achieved than could have been anticipated. The group will also be sending a dozen or so banana boxes containing the usual knitted blankets, children’s sweaters, hats, mittens, etc plus babyknits.
Again another effort from the people of Rye, neighbouring churches and wider afield, and the group wants to send a big thanks to all who have helped.
Photos: courtesy Sandra Lanigan