May 2024 Update
We have had a number of messages of thanks from people in Ukraine:
This message came from Zoryana at St. Nicholas’ Children’s Hospital in Lviv. A final consignment of eau-de-nil, sun and lime scrubs plus 92 hats were delivered to her.
'Every time I am there, I am thinking of you with gratitude. Thank you!!! You can’t even imagine how comfortable it is to work in your scrubs made with love!!'
Additionally one of the doctors sent us this link from the First Medical Union Hospital of which St. Nicholas Children’s Hospital is part.
The following letter came from Khrystyna Shpak who accompanied Nataliya Pipa, a Member of the Ukrainian Parliament, on a visit to the Scrubbery last month.
‘I trust this email finds you well. On behalf of Nataliya, I wanted to extend our gratitude to you and your great team for welcoming us during our recent visit to London. Your hospitality, coupled with the insightful tour of the Scrubbery's premises, as well as the children library, left a lasting impression on us. Exploring your organization and gaining a comprehensive understanding of the efforts being made to support Ukraine was truly inspiring. The dedication, energy, and level of engagement exhibited by you and your team are admirable. It's evident that significant work is being done, and your passion for the cause shines through in every aspect.’
We also received a video (in Ukrainian) on behalf of the NGO Successful Nation, thanking us for delivery of 5,500 scrubs.
Deliveries Update
On April 10th another consignment of rainbow scrubs was sent to the Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability.
We sent a consignment of essential medical supplies to Ukraine including BP monitors, bandages, stethoscopes, ophthalmoscopes, otoscopes, catheters, coloplasts, paracetamol, ibuprofen and nitrite gloves. Sleeping bags were sent, as were yoga mats, for the soldiers to sleep on. All these items are donated. When asked Rosie said, ‘I just ask and people donate.’
Djamilia from Medical Lifelines Ukraine arranged for 74 sets of our scrubs to be delivered by ambulance to a hospital in the Malyn Zhitomyr region, around 100km NW of Kyiv, and distributed as needed to delighted staff.
Dimitro, one of The Scrubbery’s partners from Ascot, drove an ambulance for us full of blankets, muslins, medicines and items for children aged 0-5 to an orphanage in Mykolaiv, near the front line.
60 well-being bags were delivered to paediatric junior doctors attending a well-being conference organised by King’s College Hospital. As well as the usual lovely treats, each bag included a personal thank you note.
Carrying on from the last couple of newsletters a few more volunteers introduce themselves in their own words.
Claire
As a newly retired deputy head teacher I was keen not to do any more detailed organising but was very happy to be given jobs to do! My sister-in-law Jo, a volunteer of several years, had been describing The Scrubbery, its purpose and organisation, led by Rosie. The idea of contributing in some small way to its work for Ukraine and its numerous other projects, such as wellbeing bags for NHS workers, was very appealing. I must also add that Rosie sounded such an impressive and driven person who was clearly getting so much done; it definitely felt as though there would always be a job to do!
Eighteen months later, I have been involved in many different tasks and my lack of sewing skills has not mattered at all! There is always much to do, from preparing the material strips for camouflage nets, to counting items and assembling wellbeing bags, and also assisting with the setting up of the school library. For some reason I find tying the varying shades of material onto the alternate lines of the camouflage netting very satisfying, particularly seeing a section of a vast net completed!
Volunteering in the familiarity of a school setting and being able to say hi to children and staff without any responsibility is lovely! Very much a highlight is also meeting and getting to know Rosie and the other volunteers; spending time chatting alongside learning new skills and trying to remember instructions (oh the joy of feeling like a pupil again!!)
Thank you to Rosie and everyone for being so welcoming; the work achieved is incredible.
Susan
I was born in Argentina where I spent my first 20 years. After I was married, my husband’s job meant we moved every two years, mainly around South and North America. While in South America I joined charities which were mainly involved with orphanages—most of them in great need of help.
I found out about the Scrubbery in a newsletter from St. Mary’s Church about 2 years ago and thought it would be a good place to meet people with similar interests.
I have been involved with several sewing and knitting projects, camouflage nets and helping children at the sewing club. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed working with the children and watching their growing interest and determination to finish their projects. It has been satisfying to see their progress and to feel we have been of use.
One of the special aspects of the Scrubbery is the group of many different helpers I have met, all bringing their experience and skills to share towards a common end. I have made new friends and also learnt quite a few new crafts.
Jude
I first joined the Scrubbery back in the early days of Covid.
Feeling very shut in, a friend of mine saw an advert for the Scrubbery which was then held above the Cafe at St. Mary’s Church, next to Putney Bridge. My friend suggested we join as we both like sewing and we would help in any way we could, so we started sewing Scrubs.
I had taken early retirement many years before and had been enjoying life going out and about, plus sewing a lot for myself, so helping out seemed the right thing to do.
I had worked in the large design department as a Pattern Cutter at the head office of a well known High Street store for 35 years, in the children’s, blouse and dress areas until I retired. I felt I’d had enough of travelling on the District Line up to Baker Street.
When Covid came, I, like all our friends, obeyed the rules but began to feel very shut in and away from life, so joining Rosie’s team was a great help to my mental health as well as knowing in a small way I was helping the community. Not long after Covid started we lost our lovely young dog. John & I were at a complete loss as many would understand. I started sewing from home but then started to do a few hours a week in-house at the Hub.
We all feel the Scrubbery has been so good as a meeting place for many of us to gather and we are doing good at the same time. The Scrubbery is fun to belong to and I have met so many women who have had interesting careers and lives, and I’ve learned a lot about sewing (even though I thought I knew a lot). I really enjoy all the little jobs I do, however menial or important they are. Three cheers for Rosie who started this Hub… May it continue for many years, that is if Rosie hasn’t worn herself out by then.
Sewing Club Corner
The sewing club has started again in the new term and has been keenly anticipated by the pupils and volunteers alike. Last term they made a little fabric mouse, and this term they are working on a wardrobe of clothes for their mice
