Rochesterians rally to help Ukraine

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — As the situation in Ukraine grows direr, Rochesterians are rallying to help.

Many viewers have been wondering how to help. Alexander Oryshkevych, who is a volunteer with the local non-profit InterVol, has an answer. A relief drive started this week and runs for the next week through March 10. News10NBC’s Emily Putnam visited one of them Thursday afternoon.

“We’ve had people who were unfamiliar with Ukraine just say, ‘Hey I heard what’s going on, this is awful, we’re with you and we’ll support any way we can,’” Oryshkevych said. “We’re looking specifically for new sleeping bags, socks and underwear, baby diapers, wipes adult diapers, feminine hygiene products, toothbrushes, and medical gloves.”

You can drop off new items at more than a dozen locations across the Rochester area. From there, volunteers will sort and package them and send them overseas.

“Just getting those supplies to them is critical. I think ‘hope’ is more important than ever,” Oryshkevych added

Waldemar Sukhenko is part of Rochester’s Ukrainian community, he and made a generous donation Thursday.

“In fact, we just took a thousand dollars of our own account—which we don’t have much—to help in this effort,” Sukhenko said. “You just have to pray and hope for the best, and hopefully the United States can keep helping Ukraine.

If you are unable to donate goods, you can help in other ways.

“If you’ve given a monetary donation or you’d rather help out in a different way, manpower is certainly needed in the sorting parties, getting everything organized, and onto shipping pallets,” Oryshkevych said.

The group needs volunteers to help sort through sleeping bags, medical supplies and hygiene products among other items at 100 Kings Highway South, Suite 1200, in Rochester, and warns the door may be locked, but that volunteers can call 585-922-5810 for help.

Volunteers with large vehicles are also needed to gather supplies at sites around Wayne and Monroe counties. Contact Paul Borodin at 585-736-8281.

Click here to sign up.