11 June 2025
A guest post by Viktoriia Medvied, PhD student in Creative Writing at the University of St Andrews
What do socks and books have in common?
At first glance — very little. But look closer, and you’ll find a connection.
The Scottish Information Commissioner never tires of showing their support for Ukraine and Ukrainians during this war. Together with them — and with the kind support of Alex Bezverkhnia, Freedom of Information Officer — I, Viktoriia Medvied, PhD student in Creative Writing at the University of St Andrews, researcher and lifelong devotee of Ukrainian children’s literature (and a children’s author myself!), launched a small but mighty initiative:
Socks for Books.
The idea came from home. My mum, Nataliia Yehorivna, kept sending me handmade woollen socks to Scotland — convinced that the one thing she knew for sure about this country was that it’s cold. Judging by the number of socks she sent, the local post office must have thought I was a centipede. But those socks brought more than just physical warmth — they carried love, memory, and care.
I shared a few pairs with my Scottish friends. They told me that facing Scottish winds is much easier in Ukrainian socks. And that’s when Alex and I had an idea:
What if we sold these socks — and used the money to buy Ukrainian books for frontline libraries in Sumy region, where my family is originally from?
We did just that. We’ve already raised a significant amount — but the campaign is still ongoing. Sumy is under daily attack. Life is increasingly difficult. But new, high-quality Ukrainian books can be a refuge. Stories can offer warmth, dignity, and escape — especially when there’s no option to leave physically.
Libraries in the region also need basic tech. Some rural branches don’t even have a computer. If we raise enough, I plan to buy not only books, but a few laptops to help bring internet access to the villages of Sumy.
If you’d like to support us — thank you.
If you’d simply like to spread the word — that, too, means the world.
Ukrainian public libraries are fighting their quiet battle — and we can help.
Socks warm the feet. Stories warm the soul.
For more information - or to enquire about Socks for Books - you can contact Viktoriia here (link to Facebook post).
