Many people would be mistaken for thinking that some of the photography coming out of Ukraine is actually showing the French battlefields of World War One!

Trench systems have been dug and Soldiers are living like the ‘Tommies’ of the Great War. A priority every day is to keep warm and heat food. A tried and tested method is to use a “Trench Candle” – and YOU can help!

A trench candle is an empty food tin, with a wad of rolled up corrugated cardboard inside. A couple more pieces of card are slotted in to create a wick. The tin is then filled with wax or a mixture of wax and paraffin. The simple but effective candle can burn for a few hours.

The photo shows “Trench Candles” that have been brought back from Ukraine to help highlight this appeal.

We need tins of food and candle wax!! Tins of food will be sent to Ukraine and they will then have a supply of tins. The boxes we send the tins in will be used as the wick. But we also need to send wax – lots and lots of wax. Maybe you know a wax supplier? Maybe you know someone with a wax melts business? Maybe you have leftover candles from a wedding party, etc? Please think outside of the box.

Since the launch of the “Candles for Ukraine” appeal in March 2023, we have received candles and wax from local businesses, individuals, community groups and Churches! We have been packing it all into A4 printer paper boxes and as of May 2023 we have accumulated 30 boxes!