A new fundraising campaign organized by local Rotary clubs is using its connections to get supplies into the hands of Ukrainians severely affected by the ongoing war.
Thanks to the work of Marathon Rotarian Keith Douglass and past Rotary District 6990 Governor Roy Gonas, a support line was formed between the Keys club, the Rotary Club of Lviv and clubs in neighboring countries. The two were able to connect with the Rotary Club of Lviv and its president, Natalia Dolinska. From there, Dolinska teamed up with clubs in nearby countries to set up a system where money could be sent to order and bring supplies into Ukraine.
Now, the Upper Keys Rotary Club is jumping onboard. Donations collected will be sent to Rotary Clubs in Poland and Germany to purchase supplies for those in Ukraine. Rotarian Bette Brown said it serves a direct benefit to the people of Ukraine who remain in the country or fled to a safer place.
“Instead of writing a check, we thought we would try to raise awareness,” Brown said.
Rotarian John Gallant visited Ukraine roughly 10 years ago to help build a playground at an orphanage. Gallant remembers the cute, loving kids and the caring adults who took care of them.
“The kids were well fed and cared for, but what was interesting about this orphanage was these kids went to school. They had college paid for and there was a plan in place to make those kids productive, full members of society,” he said. “It wasn’t just, ‘Oh, good luck.’ They actually cared.”
Gallant notes that 100% of the donations collected will support Ukrainians who don’t have stores to get food and other necessities. Pulling out any kind of money in places like Lviv is a challenge now. And even if Ukrainians could pull out money, there’s no supply chain or stocked shelves in the area, Gallant said.
“The neat thing about this is there is no overhead from Rotary,” he said. “We’re dealing with people on the ground who know what’s needed and how to deliver it. What we’re trying to do is produce immediate assistance at a scale needed right now.”
And with supplies getting into the right hands, it’s much more than sending food and other items. Gallant said it’s a show of support to the people regardless of what they think about the war, politics and government.
“This is about the five million people displaced from their country and the tens of millions who don’t have their needs met,” he said. “If you see a bombed building that has housing units, that’s hundreds of families with no place and no shelter of their own. They’re literally homeless.” Those wishing to support Ukrainians can visit www.keysrotary.world and click the “Donate now” button.
