When Russia escalated its war on Ukraine on February 22nd, 2022, I was paralyzed with fear and feelings of helplessness. Our family connections to Ukraine run deep. Fifteen years or so ago my husband connected online with a programmer in Ukraine. That seemingly chance encounter would completely change our lives, leading to a business office in Lviv, summer visits from the employees, numerous visits to Ukraine, the hosting of two Ukrainian orphans many times in our home, and the adoption of our son. My son’s birthplace in Ukraine, Irpin, was hit particularly hard in the early days of the escalation. Everyone can probably recall images of the throngs of people underneath the concrete bridge in Irpin who were attempting to evacuate after Russia blew up the railroad tracks there. With each passing day, the images and news out of Ukraine tortured me more and more. I couldn’t eat, I couldn’t sleep, I couldn’t function and I needed to do something, I needed to help.
By chance, I happened to see a post on social media about an international shipping company named Meest. They were collecting humanitarian aid packages and delivering them via airplane to European countries bordering Ukraine to assist the refugees and also trucking them into Lviv, Ukraine to assist those in country. I contacted the Meest location in the Chicago area and asked if they would ship the items if I collected and delivered them to their warehouse. They said yes, so I went to work.
I approached the Head of School at my children’s school to inquire whether we could do a donation drive at that school. He not only supported my idea but said “Let’s Go Big!” and suggested opening it up to the community at large. The school gave me use of a portion of the gym for four days and together with the MCDS Student Awareness and Activism Club, members of the school faculty and staff, students, parents, and community members, we collected, sorted, boxed, and inventoried mountains of donations.
Together we filled a 26’ Uhaul truck with non-perishable foods, medical and first aid supplies, clothing, sleeping bags and blankets, toiletries, baby supplies, and other items for delivery to Poland, Germany, and Ukraine to assist both refugees and evacuees. I’m so proud of what we accomplished together in such a short time frame and it was so healing for me to embark on this mission. I needed the distraction and a very tangible way to help in my time of desperation. To see the community come together in such a profound display of generosity and support was incredibly uplifting. Slava Ukraini!
Lo+Mo 
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