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SALT LAKE CITY — A local organization is organizing help for Ukraine, giving Utahns and those with friends and family in Ukraine a way to help, half a world away.
The Utah Ukrainian Association already coordinates humanitarian aid to Ukraine and aims to spread awareness of Ukrainian culture in the Beehive State.
Eugene is part of that Ukrainian community and has lived in the United States since coming to Utah in 1995 to go to college. He lives here now with his wife and 2-year-old daughter, and Eugene's mother and sister live here as well.
But he explained that the rest of his family, including his dad, aunts, uncles and cousins, all live in Mykolaiv, Ukraine, which is a city near Odesa and the Black Sea in the southern part of the country.
Eugene visits every couple of years and flew out there last summer with his wife and baby. Pictures from the trip show a fun time visiting all his relatives.
It's a far cry from the pictures and video Eugene has been looking at online, showing bombings, chaos and families fleeing from his home country.
"It's been hard just to watch people die for no reason," Eugene said, as tears welled in his eyes. "This senseless war is just so difficult."
His dad and extended family members are OK for now, and Eugene hopes it stays that way. But being so far from his original home has left Eugene feeling helpless.
"Especially being in another country, where there's nothing you can do personally to defend your country other than look on the news and maybe post some articles," he expressed.
Eugene is involved in the Utah Ukrainian Association, an organization that wants to help bridge that gap by posting resources and reputable organizations Utahns can donate to, as well as hosting a rally for people to gather.
Eugene and his family planned to attend the Support Action for Ukraine #StandWithUkraine rally Saturday at the state Capitol.
"Just to tell the world that we're for peace and we want this war to stop, and everything we can do in our power," Eugene said. "And it's not about one nationality, Ukrainians — it's all people coming together, Ukrainians and Russians, and just saying, 'That's enough.'"
Eugene may be far from family and the place he once called home, but he won't have to stand up for peace by himself.
"I think that means a lot to me, and to my family, and to our community just to know that we're not alone," Eugene said. "That there are American people and other nationalities who care about Ukrainian suffering, and what they're going through."
The Support Action for Ukraine, #StandWithUkraine rally hosted by the Utah Ukrainian Association is planned for Saturday at the state Capitol from noon to 3 p.m.
The Utah Ukrainian Association also shared names of places they consider reputable to donate* to, with the following list:
- Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA), for humanitarian aid
- United Help Ukraine, for donating medical supplies to Ukraine's front lines
- Revived Soldiers Ukraine, for treatment of wounded soldiers and the provision of hospitals
- Razom for Ukraine, for tactical medical training and emergency response in Ukraine
- Nova Ukraine, for humanitarian aid
- Sunflower of Peace, for tactical medicine
- Hromada, for children whose parents gave lives in the Russian-Ukrainian war in eastern Ukraine
"Donate to charity organizations that directly help Ukraine and Ukrainians," the Utah Ukrainian Association wrote. "All the listed charities are registered in the USA and are 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organizations. Donations and gifts are tax-deductible to the full extent allowable under IRS regulations."
*KSL.com does not assure that the money deposited to the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit to the account, you should consult your own advisers and otherwise proceed at your own risk.
