Emmaus Cambridge has sent its first consignment of candles to Ukraine.
Russian bombing attacks on Ukrainian power stations and infrastructure have caused blackouts which means the victims are struggling for heat and light in this humanitarian crisis.
In response, Ukrainians are putting the humble candle to an emergency use. New and half-burnt ones are being melted down into blocks of wax, a transportable fuel for cooking or keeping warm, as well as a source of light.
In the UK, a scheme to collect and distribute candles was launched by the Swindon Humanitarian Aid Partnership. A local contributor to the scheme is the Granta Probus Club in Cambridge. Emmaus Cambridge has sent 16 boxes of candles to George, the Club’s representative in Trumpington; that’s wax weighing a total of approximately 300 kilos (660 lbs).
Please donate your unwanted candles
More consignments to the one pictured below will follow. We will continue to set aside all candles – new or partly-used – which visitors can drop off at our Landbeach shop, everything from a small, unused tealight to a large, decorative candle.
We have a Drop-Off box for your donated candles, available 10.00am – 3.00pm, Wednesday to Sunday. Our Candles For Ukraine effort was suggested and supported by our companions and is counted as “goods-in-kind”.
In addition to such gifts, companions have a monthly Solidarity Fund which makes financial donations to other charities who, like Emmaus, are working to tackle poverty and homelessness. Companions vote to decide on these beneficiaries and allocations.
