Care packages, prayer services, donations: Centre County answers call to support Ukraine
In Ukraine, the sound of missile strikes and artillery fire echo in once vibrant and lively streets. Nearly 5,000 miles away, in Centre County, a community largely detached from the conflict has mobilized to lend support to the nation.
Since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, the United Nations has confirmed at least 6.5 million people have been displaced internally within the nation and at least 977 civilians have been killed, as of Wednesday.
As the violence rages on, various efforts are underway in the Centre County region to help those affected. Leading these efforts is the Salvation Baptist Church in State College, which has set a mission of filling a shipping container with 1,000 medium sized care packages to send to Ukraine by the end of the month.
So far, the church at 3645 W. College Ave. has packed more than 500 boxes full of various items including clothing and shoes ranging from infant to adult sizes, blankets and bedding, feminine products, hygiene products, medical supplies and food.
Vitaly Maslov, church administrator, said he has been overwhelmed by the community’s involvement in the initiative.
“A lot of people in the community are finding out about what we are doing and are bringing supplies in nonstop,” Maslov, who immigrated from Russia in 1988, said. “I can’t believe how quickly things are being put together and how much everybody’s helping out.”
Maslov said the church has been sending care packages to those in need in Ukraine, Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan for the past 20 years. Since the conflict erupted in Ukraine, the church has pivoted to responding to the outcry for help in the nation and in neighboring countries that are welcoming those displaced by the violence.
The care packages will be shipped out at the end of the month to local churches in Ukraine that the Salvation Baptist Church has previously supported. Maslov emphasized that these churches are actively supporting their communities and providing aid to Ukrainians in need.
While Maslov has no direct connection to the crisis, he said many of the church’s members are from Ukraine or have family and friends living in the country that is home to 41 million.
“It’s so close to home, so we’re disappointed that things are happening the way they are and we want to see peace between Russia and Ukraine,” Maslov said. “Many of us have family both in Russia and Ukraine, and we are connected in so many ways.”
The packing team, which is comprised mainly of volunteers, is still collecting donations and are running low on the following items: adult and baby diapers and wet wipes; toothbrushes and toothpaste; shampoo, conditioner and body wash; men’s deodorant; and canned green peas, corn, tuna, beef and chicken.
Donations can be dropped off at the Salvation Baptist Church in State College at any time during the day.
Churches offer support, prayer services
Maslov said that the effort would not be experiencing this level of success if it weren’t for the support of other community organizations — such as the network of local churches calling on their members to advance the mission.
One of those is the St. Mark Lutheran Church in Howard, where members have been issued a call to action to either donate items or give money to a fund that has allowed for the purchase of toiletry items to add to the care packages.
The church is also hosting a Prayer Service for Peace on March 31 at 6 p.m. to give the community a place to congregate and pray for an end to the war.
Pastor David Pencek said that all community members are invited to attend regardless of their religious background.
“The words will come from our tradition, but I want people to know that they can come regardless of if they’ve ever been inside of a church before,” Pencek said. “Even if you just want to use the space to sit in a pew, mediate and think about the people of Ukraine and Russia who are going through a difficult time — you can come and do that.”
Businesses, Penn State community rally around Ukraine
Businesses have also joined in the humanitarian efforts. In the beginning of March, the Adam Cole Salon in State College posted on Facebook asking clients for both supplies and monetary donations to send to Ukraine through the Salvation Baptist Church. With two stylists having friends and family in Ukraine — and one of them being originally from the nation — those working at the salon felt inclined to help in whatever way they could.
Kylie Bortner, salon manager, said she has been amazed by the overwhelming generosity of the salon’s clients and the overall community in contributing to the care packages.
“It’s very near and dear to us because of our stylists being directly affected, so we thought we would ask our clients and it kind of blew up,” Bortner said. “We have a back room full of donations that has been filled and emptied at least four times.”
As the State College community has mobilized to help Ukraine, the university population has followed suit.
After spearheading a rally that drew hundreds of people to show solidarity for Ukraine, Penn State’s Ukrainian Society launched a donation fund that has raised around $8,000 this month. Yuliya Ladygina, assistant professor at Penn State, said the organization is in the process of deciding how to best transfer the money to charities supporting the Ukrainian military and to provide medical support to wounded soldiers. A portion of the money will also go to supporting refugees and humanitarian purposes.
Ladygina, a dual American/Ukrainian citizen, said that while it is difficult to engage students who are not personally connected to a conflict happening so far away — and who are also preoccupied with the qualms of college life — she has been pleasantly surprised by the amount of money they have raised primarily through student donations.
The organization is in the process of planning two more events: first, a cultural event before the Easter holiday to decorate Easter eggs in a Ukrainian style; and second, a color marathon before final exams where runners get covered in blue and yellow powder. Both events will be advertised on the organization’s social media and through Penn State’s College of Liberal Arts once they are finalized.
On top of these events, Ladygina emphasized that the organization has a variety of learning opportunities, including panels, discussions and lectures, designed to raise awareness and reach out to broader demographics across campus about what is happening in the Eastern European nation.
“It’s so important to educate yourself and learn more about the conflict and to keep the conversation going because that’s one big tendency of our media — something major happens and it goes through the cycle until something else happens and attention goes elsewhere,” she said. “The conflict and violence in Ukraine is going to be there for quite some time — so we can’t let it cycle out from public attention.”
To donate to the Penn State Ukrainian Society’s support fund, visit their Venmo.
