DIRECT HELP FOR THE PEOPLE OF UKRAINE

Hello, my name is Erika Gottl, and a year ago, my dear friend, Katie Tortorice, married a beautiful Ukrainian man named Mykola Shpyrka. They spent all of 2021 living together in a small village in the Vinnytsia region of central Ukraine. Now she is safely back home in Oregon, but her husband is trapped there -- as well as their family, friends and neighbors in their village.

With a nationwide draft in place, Katie is helpless to get Mykola out of the country to safety. Mykola has dedicated himself to helping as many Ukrainians as he can with the assistance of his family and community. We can help support all of their efforts in extending this net of assistance as wide as possible. The funds that we raise here will go directly to helping Ukrainians in immediate and dire need.

 

 

There are many areas now occupied, and affected, by the Russian military that are extremely difficult, if not impossible, to get aid to. Many people in these areas are now out of work and without income due to the war. Some are trying to escape with just the shirt on their backs, and there are many families with children.

They need shelter.
They need transportation to safety.
They need medicine and medical supplies.
They need help with medical bills.
They need food and basic amenities.
They need to sustain themselves for the duration of the occupation of their cities and regions for the days and weeks to come.

And their need is ongoing and immediate.

The donations we raise here will partly go toward enabling Mykola, and his friends in the Vinnytsia region, to buy food for families in need, as well as to continue repairing dwellings in their village to provide shelter for those fleeing the war. With previous donations from Katie’s friends and family, 14 families (42 people) have already been given shelter in 7 homes that were repaired, and more families are inquiring about shelter daily. Mykola, with the help of his friends, have also been able to provide approximately 200 families and individuals in the Vinnytsia region with food and basic supplies, as well as disperse funds to more than 100 people giving them the means to meet their most urgent needs to care for themselves and their families. But many more are still in need.

In addition, we hope to support organizations doing great work in Western Ukraine where many refugees have now fled.  Mykola is working with close friends to aid and support a hospital in Khmelnytskyi struggling to purchase supplies. Mykola’s friend reports that the situation is dire, and they are in desperate need of suture materials, and all other medical supplies, to treat the incoming wounded fleeing to western Ukraine. Currently, these supplies must be ordered from abroad. Here is the link of the hospital that funds would be sent to:

https://ogvv-kh.lic.org.ua/ 

Below a partial list of equipment they need that your donations may also be used toward:

- Ultrasound machine
- Vertical bicycle for medical rehabilitation
- MOTOmed
- Vein scanner
- Apparatus for laser ablation of veins
-Electrocardiograph
- Coagulator with clamp

Mykola also has a friend volunteering at a facility called, “Rodynnyi Zatyshok” for disabled children, that is now also providing aid for refugees and needs support. Here is their website:

https://soczahist.khm.gov.ua/?page_id=32

Here is a partial list of their current needs:

- Pillows, mattresses, pillow cases, and comforters
- Toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, soap
- Slippers, towels
- Food

There is also a volunteer organization called, Blagodiynyy fond volonterska spilnota “Shans na zhyttya” blagodiyna organizaciya 

(Approximate translation of the name - “Volunteer Community Chance for life” Charity organization)

This organization helps to evacuate people from war zones, accommodate and feed them, as well as provide their first essential needs, i.e. clothing, toiletries, etc. They are taking care of refugees from all over Ukraine, primarily women with children and elderly people. They even care for their pets. They also hope to make a center for children to help with "psychological relief.”

For these endeavors they require, money, gasoline, food, clothes, medicine, toiletries, and some colorful supplies to make a nice place for the children.

Mykola and Katie have many friends, on the ground, working with refugees inside Ukraine, in positions that give them great insight into the immediate needs of the people in their areas. The Ukrainian people are like a tightly woven cloth -- their connections and network are remarkable, intricate and far-reaching. We know that this money will be able to make it into the hands of those who truly need it now most, and it will have an immediate impact on their quality of life!

We wish to let the Ukrainian people know they are not alone, that many people from around the world are standing behind them, supporting them!! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all your love and generosity during this time.

Please share this message in any way, on any platform you feel inspired to!

With hope for peace in Ukraine
With love and gratitude,

Photos of some of the people in the village (pre-war)