The Ukraine Crisis: How You Can Help

This month marks the one-year anniversary since the devastating fire that destroyed my workroom, studio, and offices.

Today, one year later, there is another fire in my home.

My Homeland – Ukraine.⠀

A part of my heart will always belong to Ukraine. Photo credit Getty images.

As many of you know, I am originally from Ukraine. I moved to the US when I was 15 years old as a Rotary Exchange student. I was born and raised in Lviv, and my husband Vitali was born in Kyiv. ⠀
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Fortunately, our family no longer lives there; but we do have many close friends that are caught up in the tragedy that is just beginning. ⠀

My heart breaks to watch what the people of Ukraine are going through. We still have many close friends there. Photo credit AP News

It hurts to see the country of our birth like this. Even though we have spent most of our lives in the US, a piece of my heart will always belong to Ukraine. We don’t know how all this will play out, but it is certain that it will get worse before it gets better.

We’ve been watching everything unfold for weeks, hoping that it wouldn’t come to this. It’s surreal, and our hearts are breaking knowing there’s nothing we can do at this point but wish for peace and the safety of our friends.

Photo credit AP News.

It’s been hard to concentrate on window treatments – or anything else for that matter – but we owe it to our designers and clients to continue to provide the high level of services and support they expect and deserve. So we are carrying on, providing the best possible service, despite the turmoil we feel inside.
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We’ve been getting tons of messages from our friends and colleagues, and we appreciate the love and support so much.

Photo credit Business Insider.

If this crisis has left you feeling as horrified and helpless as we feel, know that you are not alone. We know we are not alone because of the outpouring of support and love we have witnessed.

If you are looking for a way to help, I encourage you to sign the Change.org petition asking NATO to close the skies over Ukraine.

Below, I'm also sharing a few charities that are working hard to provide aid and relief to the people of Ukraine, if you are looking for ways to donate.

Now and forever, our hearts are with Ukraine.

Together with schools and community centers, we work to help children overcome the mental and psychological impacts of their experiences of conflict and violence, and increase their resilience and ability to cope with stresses in their daily lives. ​

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This includes supporting their access to education, providing psychosocial support, distributing winter kits and hygiene kits, and providing cash grants to families so they can meet basic needs such as food, rent and medicines, or so they can invest in starting new businesses.​

In support of refugees escaping the violence, WCK began serving hot, nourishing meals in Poland within a day of the initial attack and are now set up at eight border crossings, as well in Przemyśl—a city receiving many refugee families. ​

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While our Relief Team continues to explore the safest and best way to provide meals beyond the entry points in Ukraine, WCK is currently providing remote support to restaurants inside the country cooking meals for anyone in need.​

This is a local Northeast Philadelphia Organization that supports local immigrants from the former USSR. ​
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It is currently collecting donations to help misplaced orphans that are being transported to Lviv (my city of birth) for safety.