This is our Ukrainian son, Misha, who is married to our daughter, Hannah, and Misha's parents. Sometimes it is easier for us to think about others when there is a direct connection with someone we know.
Misha is from Western Ukraine, and his mom and dad are still there. Misha's brother-in-law is on the front lines of the war in Kyiv, and it is likely another family member will be going there to fight, too, as all males 18-60 years of age are being asked to defend Ukraine's sovereignty.
Kind people are asking me, "What can I do?" "How can I help?" Let me tell you. You can give your money to help the military, to care for refugees, or to other pressing needs. A dollar goes a long way in Ukraine. You can keep the issue in mind and talk about it and not forget about Ukraine when our fickle media moves on to the next story.
If you live in the Willamette Valley, you can come to the Benton County Courthouse tomorrow at noon (2/25/2022) to #StandWithUkraine. I'll be there. Hannah will be there. Jeannie will be there. Misha will be there. Join us and show you care. Bring a respectful sign. We will also have some to share. If you live in Corvallis, remember that Uzhgorod, Ukraine, is our Corvallis Sister City. Let's show them we care!
I listened to the speech of Ukrainian President Zelenskyy. One line really pierced my heart. As he was speaking to the Russians, he referred to the fact that Ukraine will not simply roll over in the face of a Russian invasion. He said that as they invade, "You will see our faces and not our backs." The Ukrainians are brave, noble people.
On my first trip to Ukraine in 1992, as I left Kyiv, my interpreter said to me, "Don't forget Ukraine." No one who has ever been to Ukraine can forget her because the hearts of the people and the beauty of the country never leave you.
The various avenues for donating money to Ukraine have proven to be a bit confusing and many links don’t work/aren’t really clear or easy to use, so we’ve decided to take a different route. So, here we go...my PayPal account is open for donations. This will allow you, if you’re in the US, to easily send money and I will personally see to it (with the help of Misha and Ukrainian friends/family) that the money goes directly to the Ukrainian forces. Specifically, the money will go directly to the Uzghorod Troop 128, where Misha’s brother is serving on the front lines.
If you feel weird about donating through me, don't do it. There are other options.
If you want to Paypal: info@nwstudentservices.com
if you want to help Ukrainian refugees, I have a connection with an organization In Uzhgorod that is taking in people and gathering supplies for refugees. Give at https://2riverschurch.org/give, add the amount and select Missions-Ukraine-T. Machabeli (Tanya is a friend in Ukraine).
If you want to donate directly to a variety of needs, check out Razom for Ukraine.
If you want to Venmo, use @steviethevagabond
Whatever you do, make sure it isn't nothing. Make sure it is something.