News / Bric-a-brac sale and fundraising concert to support Ukraine
PARISHIONERS of St Margaret’s Church in Lerwick are doing their bit to help the Ukraine cause.
They are organising a sale of bakes, books and bric-a-brac to be held in the Parish House – next door to the church – on Saturday (26 March) from 11am-4pm.
“The news just now is so dreadful,” parishioner Marsali Taylor said, “and we wanted to do something as a parish to help.
“Lent is traditionally a time when we try to get rid of things we don’t need, so I thought I’d thin out my bookshelves for a bookstall. The idea grew from there.”
The day is a joint effort, with Celia Smith in charge of baking, Ritva Reid organising the bric-a-brac stall and Brian Nugent taking on the raffle.
“People have been incredibly generous,” Taylor said.
“There are boxes of books and raffle items in the parish rooms already, and so many people have offered to help out on the day.
“We’re really hoping that it’ll be a bonny day so that we can spread out into the parish garden and offer cups of tea as well.
“The money raised will be donated to SCIAF (Caritas Internationalis), which has people on the ground in Poland and Moldova, so everything we can give will go quickly to help refugees there.”
The parish rooms will be open for donations from 1pm to 5pm today (Friday).
Local band Odesa is also hosting a Ukraine fundraising concert at the Lerwick Boating Club on 2 April from 8pm.
The gig has been organised as a way to raise funds to support Ukrainians who are fleeing their homeland because of the war.
It is also a way of “celebrating Ukrainian music, which is such a powerful and joyful aspect of Ukrainian culture,” organisers said.
The first half of the performance will be dedicated solely to Ukrainian music.
Boating club commodore Frankie Valente said: “Please be prepared to make a generous donation, all of which will be given to the charities that are providing aid to the refugees and to those that are suffering in Ukraine because of the devastation to the country’s infrastructure.”
A fundraising event at the Baltasound Hall in Unst on 3 April will also support the Ukraine cause.
Soup, sandwiches, teas and cakes will be on offer between midday and 2pm, with people paying an entry fee. Stalls will also be held.
There will also be food and live music at the Cunningsburgh Hall on Sunday 10 April in aid of the British Red Cross Ukraine humanitarian appeal.
There will be soup, sandwiches and homebakes, as well as a raffle. Doors will be open between midday and 3pm.
Meanwhile on Saturday 16 April a variety concert will be held at the Sound Hall in Lerwick to raise funds for the appeal.
On the line-up will be Odesa, High Level Hot Club, Skelburn, Sarah Thomson and Jenny Henry. Tickets can be booked online and donations will be taken on the door.
Become a member of Shetland News
Shetland News is asking its many readers to consider paying for membership to get additional features and services: -
- Remove non-local ads;
- Bookmark posts to read later;
- Exclusive curated weekly newsletter;
- Hide membership messages;
- Comments open for discussion.
If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a member of Shetland News by either making a single payment, or setting up a monthly, quarterly or yearly subscription.
Already a member? Sign in to hide this message.
