Humanitarian Aid for Misplaced Families in Ukraine
Don protégé
For many days, I see the horrors of the situation in Ukraine from the comfort of my Californian home. I was born and grew up in that country where thousands of families are displaced from their homes destroyed by the war every day. Women and children migrate farther away from Kharkiv, Kiyv, Kherson, Mariupol and other cities. Their husbands, fathers and adult sons stay behind to protect their towns and homes. The catastrophe is growing. I know I cannot help everyone, but I sure want to help those I can reach directly.
My family lives closer to the western border, and although they experience regular air raids there, they are not as severe as in Kiyv or Kharkiv. At least for now. Many of my friends or people I know from my former neighborhood or from former employment help in the work efforts and board people who were left without a roof over their heads, total strangers. Some are trying to get to the border taking small children away from the horror. They left all possessions behind, but more importantly, they left their men and sometimes elderly family members. My extended family in Vinnitsa, Ukraine is taking care of 30 refugees from Kharkov, but the number of them is growing daily. My brother keeps making trips from there to the Polish border to help them to get to safety. His car is a sedan, so he can take only four passengers (women with kids). It takes him 20-24 hours a round trip because of the road congestion on the way to border crossing. Many businesses, restaurants and cafés stay open day and night, preparing free meals for the civilians. There are many of my friends there who also volunteer or take care of displaced families. They are getting food and personal necessities for people who left homes with the clothes on their shoulders.
Since the start of the war in Ukraine, many of my American friends, co-workers, neighbors have been asking how they can help. At first, I was at a loss for words. Can we stop the war? That is the first on everyone's agenda, but if we cannot do that, we have to help those who are trying to survive. The funds raised here will be sent directly to local volunteer organizations in my region in Ukraine that provide humanitarian help for civilians and families fleeing epicenters of war.
My family lives closer to the western border, and although they experience regular air raids there, they are not as severe as in Kiyv or Kharkiv. At least for now. Many of my friends or people I know from my former neighborhood or from former employment help in the work efforts and board people who were left without a roof over their heads, total strangers. Some are trying to get to the border taking small children away from the horror. They left all possessions behind, but more importantly, they left their men and sometimes elderly family members. My extended family in Vinnitsa, Ukraine is taking care of 30 refugees from Kharkov, but the number of them is growing daily. My brother keeps making trips from there to the Polish border to help them to get to safety. His car is a sedan, so he can take only four passengers (women with kids). It takes him 20-24 hours a round trip because of the road congestion on the way to border crossing. Many businesses, restaurants and cafés stay open day and night, preparing free meals for the civilians. There are many of my friends there who also volunteer or take care of displaced families. They are getting food and personal necessities for people who left homes with the clothes on their shoulders.
Since the start of the war in Ukraine, many of my American friends, co-workers, neighbors have been asking how they can help. At first, I was at a loss for words. Can we stop the war? That is the first on everyone's agenda, but if we cannot do that, we have to help those who are trying to survive. The funds raised here will be sent directly to local volunteer organizations in my region in Ukraine that provide humanitarian help for civilians and families fleeing epicenters of war.
Organisateur
Olena McLin
Organisateur
San Jose, CA