Hi, my name is Vitaliia and I am originally from Ukraine. I was born and raised in Kamianske (formerly Dniprodzerzhynsk), Dnipro region. I moved to the United States in 2009, but I still have family and many friends back in my homeland.

When the war started on February 24th, I felt helpless and terrified for all my Ukrainian people. I told myself that I had to do something to help them. Since the war began, my days start by checking on all of my friends and contacts to make sure they are okay.

Some of my friends left right away, like my best friend from preschool and her four-year-old son, and another friend and her two kids. Both of them and their children were able to flee to Budapest, Hungary. Some of the early donations I received helped my girlfriends pay for their transit out of Ukraine.

Other friends of mine and their families have decided to stay behind and create volunteer organizations to help people in my hometown and those fleeing other cities in Ukraine that have been decimated by Russian bombs. Due to the geographical location of my hometown being more in the center of the country, it has not been attacked like other areas of Ukraine. My town has become a place of refuge for people fleeing cities like Mariupol, Kharkiv, Luhansk, and even Kyiv. Wounded soldiers and civilians are being brought to our local hospitals. There were over 150 children, ages 0-7, that came from an orphanage and were placed in a shelter, as well as mothers with kids who’s husbands are in army. I have been raising and sending donations that are helping to provide food to these children and mothers, along with the wounded and non-wounded soldiers in need. Donations have also been used to buy generators to keep shelters warm and ensure meals can be made when the power goes out.

This money is also helping to buy diapers, warm clothes, blankets, and medicine. My friends and their volunteers have been collecting warm blankets and making wool socks and underclothes. There are also many elderly people that are in need of food and support who are being helped.

I receive thank you photos from my friends, which makes my day, but also breaks my heart.

Please note, that all the donations raised are going directly to the source. There is no third party fee. The money is being spent on what the needs are and who is in need.

Thank you for your help and supporting the people of Ukraine.

Sincerely,

Vitaliia