The Latvian charity organization “Tavi draugi” and the state-owned postal company “Latvijas Pasts” are organizing their seventh knitted clothing donation campaign to support Ukrainian soldiers, running from November until the end of March next year.
Residents are encouraged to donate knitted socks, hats, scarves and gloves, which are urgently needed on the front lines and in military hospitals. The recommended sock sizes range from 37 to 45, while neutral, inconspicuous colors are preferred for all knitted items.
The organizers explain that Latvijas Pasts will deliver donated knitted items to the charity Tavi draugi free of charge. The organization will then gradually transport the donations to Ukraine according to requests from Ukrainian soldiers.
Donations can be sent through Latvijas Pasts’ blue parcel lockers across Latvia or handed in at the company’s customer service locations during opening hours.
To send knitted items free of charge using a parcel locker, donors must register their shipment at mans.pasts.lv, select domestic shipping within Latvia and choose a parcel locker as both the sending and receiving method. The designated receiving parcel locker is “Mārupe, Ziemeļu iela 10, Lidosta Rīga, Mārupes pag., Mārupes nov., LV-1044”.
After entering the sender’s and recipient’s details, including a telephone number, donors must enter the discount code “TAVIDRAUGI” in the promotional code field and click “Apply”. Once the total shipping cost is reduced to zero euros, they should select the “Pay” button to complete the process.
The generated shipping label must be printed and attached to the parcel. If donors cannot print it themselves, they can do so at a parcel locker by entering the shipment number or scanning the barcode.
Parcels can be deposited at any Latvijas Pasts parcel locker.
The maximum parcel dimensions are 39 × 38 × 58 centimeters, and the weight must not exceed 31.5 kilograms.
When handing in donations at a customer service location, the parcel must be labeled: Campaign “TAVIDRAUGI”, Ziemeļu iela 10, Mārupes novads, LV-1000.
Knitted items can also be handed over to a postal worker if the customer already receives other postal or payment services at home. However, the “Postman at Home” service cannot be requested solely for the purpose of donating items.
The campaign organizers also note that, as the cold season begins, Ukrainian soldiers are requesting additional supplies, including chemical hand warmers, thermal underwear, tea, cold and flu medication, and other essential items to help them stay warm.
Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Tavi draugi and Latvijas Pasts have delivered tens of thousands of kilograms of knitted items donated by Latvian residents to Ukraine.