The Church of Ireland Diocese of Connor

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Connor parishes respond to plight of Ukrainians

Tuesday March 8th 2022

Supplies collected by the Parish of Christ Church and St John, Ballyclare, and destined for the Polish border with Ukraine are loaded into lorries in Ballyclare.

Parishes across Connor Diocese have responded generously to appeals to donate items to help those refugees from Ukraine arriving at the border with Poland and other European countries.

In Ballyclare, the United Parish of Christ Church and St John collected donations which are being channelled to the Polish border via Hope for Youth Ministries who set up a collection hub in Kinallan, near Dromara.  

The Rev Jonny Campbell-Smyth said that the entire community had given generously. “We were completely overwhelmed by the response and apologies to those we had to turn away,” Jonny said.

He expressed thanks to John Jenkins & Dennisons who provided the lorry to go to Kinallen.

“When we arrived there, we were astonished by the volume of donations. Twenty five x 40ft lorries had already been filled to go to Poland. What an incredible witness of the love of God to those in so much need at this time,” Jonny said.

The initiative was established by Colin Tinsley of Hope for Youth Ministries. Anyone wishing to donate to the work that Colin Tinsley is doing can do so on his GoFundMe page.

St Peter’s Parish Church, Antrim Road, Belfast, has thanked everyone who donated to its appeal for items for delivery to refugees crossing the border from Ukraine. Pictured above are Clare and Anna, who brought generous donations from the staff at TKMaxx.

St Peter’s will continue to receive and ensure the delivery of items in the coming weeks.

St Paul’s, Lisburn, also saw a generous response to its Ukrainian Appeal, with donations again being sent to Poland through Youth for Hope Ministries in Kinallen.

Please note that due to the generosity of people in Northern Ireland, the Hope for Youth Ministries hub in Kinallen is no longer accepting donations after 30 x 40ft lorries were filled ready for transit to Poland over the weekend.

Two Lisburn Cathedral parishioners are going to Poland to support those fleeing the fighting in Ukraine. Sam Shaw is setting out this week to drive supplies to a city just over the Polish border, while his Brazilian- born wife Silvana is already in Poland working with other women to secure safe passage for refugees making their way out of Ukraine. We hope to speak to them on their return next week.

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