A UK midwife has shared how vital baby supplies are reaching mothers in Ukraine thanks to the work of a Hampshire charity.
Wendy Warrington, a midwife from Bury, visited the Lymington aid hub of New Forest for Ukraine (NFFU) on August 30 to thank volunteers in person and deliver supplies.
NFFU is a key partner in her ongoing humanitarian work in Ukraine.
Wendy Warrington with Theresa Magner, Knitting Coordinator and some of the volunteers as they get ready to send another load of Baby Boxes and baby supplies out to Ukraine(Image: NFFU)
Wendy said: "The people I meet in Ukraine are in awe that people in the New Forest and UK give their time, donations and support.
"Knowing that people are thinking and caring about them really inspires them to keep going.
"I couldn't do what I do without the support of NFFU and the New Forest.
"My work with NFFU enables me to continue to support pregnant women and newborns which is so important to me as a midwife."
She has been volunteering in Ukraine since 2022, initially on the Polish-Ukrainian border, and has since delivered 21 incubators, maternity equipment and thousands of food parcels across the country.
NFFU provides baby supplies, hygiene products, and Baby Boxes filled with handmade clothes and essential items for new mothers.
During her visit, Wendy spoke to volunteers about the realities facing families in Ukraine, where simple items like wipes and hygiene products are critical when water supplies are disrupted by airstrikes.
She said that even though Ukraine's birth rate has fallen due to the war, she recently delivered NFFU Baby Boxes to 19 women who had given birth on a single day at Kharkiv Maternity Hospital.
To donate, visit justgiving.com/charity/newforestforukraine or text NFFU5 to 70255 to give £5.
Theresa Magner, knitting coordinator at NFFU, said: "Wendy and Simon's visit has motivated and inspired us so much.
"It was fantastic to hear from Wendy what she does on the ground in Ukraine and how much they love receiving what we send because we love doing it."
Mandy Haynes, head of NFFU, said: "It's been such a pleasure meeting Wendy and her husband Simon face-to-face at our aid hub in Lymington to hear first-hand about their experiences on the ground in Ukraine."