– I come to deliver five dresses that I have sewn, says Susanne Larsen from Vodskov as she steps into the large hall on Forsøgsvej in Tylstrup, which serves as the setting for the association Solskin for Ukraine.

Susanne Larsen shares that she recently found some beautiful fabric in a thrift store that could be transformed into dresses for some of the little girls at the orphanage in Kiev that the association supports. Last week, it resulted in 14 new dresses, and previously she has also sewn elephant hats and pants to make a difference for children living in the shadow of war.

Susanne Larsen is far from the only one coming by with donations. The meters of shelves filled with everything from shoes, electronics, and clothing to toys, kitchenware, and decorative items testify to that. Most recently, a dental clinic in Sæby donated equipment that will now be sent to Ukraine.

– We are experiencing incredible support from Skagen in the north to Midtjylland, and we have also received help from Lejre in Zealand, where we received two boxes of freshly washed football clothes that were neatly folded and football boots that we can pass on to Ukrainian children participating in this year's Dana Cup. We have several women who knit and sew. This enormous support and willingness to help moves me, says the association's treasurer, Hanne Pedersen.

In part of the hall, a play corner has been set up where children can enjoy themselves and find toys while their parents look for the things they need. In the back part of the hall, Anja Jensen and Dorthe Vangsted are busy sorting the contents of the bags that have been delivered. The requirement is that the items submitted must be in usable condition and preferably washed if they are clothing, as the volunteers do not have access to a washing machine in the hall. Once the clothing is sorted, each item gets its place on the neatly arranged shelves, where both local Ukrainian families and volunteers can quickly find what they need.

On Saturday, the association will send two containers filled with, among other things, appliances, trench lights, emergency generators, medicine for children, toys, clothing, and furniture to Ukraine. In this context, Fonden Sol og Strand by Margit and Kjeld has donated 100,000 kroner. The money will go towards purchasing necessary equipment and covering the costs of the 2000-kilometer transport to Kiev.

– That donation means an incredible lot for our work. Specifically, it allows us to buy things that we otherwise would not have been able to afford. This includes emergency generators, which are crucial for families who may be without power for several days after a bombing, says the association's chairperson Joan Vangsted.

The story of Solskin for Ukraine began long before the latest donation. For Joan Vangsted, it started with an empty house.

Joan Vangsted and her husband run a farm near Tylstrup and have employed Ukrainian workers for several years.

When Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Joan Vangsted wanted to help some of the families fleeing to Denmark. By coincidence, the couple had a house that was empty, and it became a safe base for a Ukrainian family.

– When we were informed that a family of 15 was on their way here, I quickly got busy making the empty house into a home. I made a post on Facebook describing that I needed help and furniture so that the house could be ready when the family arrived, says Joan Vangsted.

The next day, volunteers showed up with brooms and buckets to clean the house. A private donation of 50,000 kroner made it possible to buy beds, a local flooring contractor sponsored carpets, and others baked cakes and prepared easy meals for the freezer.

– The support was overwhelming. The garage quickly filled up with things that people brought by, and therefore I thought we had to help even more, says Joan Vangsted.

This marked the beginning of the association, which first was located in Tylstrup's former biscuit factory, Tylstrup Kager, and later moved to its current premises on Forsøgsvej. Today, the association helps both a congregation and an orphanage in Ukraine. At the same time, it continues to focus on supporting Ukrainian refugees living here, who can collect clothes and equipment as the need arises.

– It gives me chills that so many people want to help, and it makes me incredibly proud that we have come so far that we can send aid to Ukraine, while still helping Ukrainians who have fled to Denmark, says Joan Vangsted.

The association's treasurer, Hanne Pedersen, was among the volunteers who signed up to help prepare the empty house for the first refugee family. Today, the former nurse is the treasurer of the association – a role that at times corresponds to a work week of around 40 hours.

– I have become too old to work in a hospital in Ukraine, but I can make a difference here in the association. My motivation is a desire for history not to repeat itself. The German refugees who came to Denmark after World War II were not all treated well, and I want to help ensure that the Ukrainians who come here are met properly. At the same time, I want to make a difference where possible, says Hanne Pedersen.

– We are trying to integrate the Ukrainian families living in Denmark. It should not be a 'them and us', but a 'we'. Therefore, we invite them to various events where they have the opportunity to help in the association. They are very eager to do so, says Hanne Pedersen.

As the war in Ukraine approaches its 5th year, the volunteers in Tylstrup hope that one day there will no longer be a need for the association.

– My dream is that the war stops, so there is no longer a need for our help. But as long as people in Ukraine need help, and we have volunteers who want to be involved, we will continue. Because it makes a huge difference, says Joan Vangsted.

 

ABOUT THE ASSOCIATION

Sunshine for Ukraine is located at Forsøgsvej 26 in Tylstrup. Here, the association receives both new and used items, which should be in a condition that one would also want to use.

The association has around 15-20 volunteers, and there is always room for more.