In support of relief efforts for war-torn Ukraine, Moorestown residents Harry Faunce, Becky Cheung, Elena Nirenberg and Jennifer Scharf are holding a donation drive through March 18.
New socks and underwear for all ages and genders can be dropped off at any of the following schools: Baker, Roberts, South Valley and Upper elementary schools and William Allen Middle School.
First-aid related items and kits and over-the-counter medications such as Tylenol and/or Ibuprofen and vitamins can be dropped off at the Moorestown Rec Center. All donations will go to the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia and the Ukrainian Educational and Cultural Center in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania.
“The needs on the ground, in Poland and in the Czech Republic and in Ukraine, are changing daily,” Faunce said of Russia’s incursion into Ukraine last month. “The needs that they have, they can’t even properly predict because of the amount of refugees that are coming across the border, what aid they can get into Ukraine and then just the ever-changing conditions.”
Faunce said sock and underwear donations are important because of their value.
“Those are items that will always be needed no matter what the weather is (and) no matter what is going on,” he said. “What they need today and right now is going to be very different then what they’re going to need two weeks from now.”
“The people just, they’re trying to guess what they’re going to need at some point in time in the future,” Faunce added.
Items are also donated separately for a reason.
“The key there is, we don’t want medications being dropped off at the schools, because schools are very sensitive when it comes to medications and children and we don’t want that, because they’re just sitting out,” Faunce explained.
Faunce emphasized that monetary donations to any reputable organization helping Ukraine are strongly encouraged, and a list is provided on his Facebook page.
“The cash you donate today will actually be used today through wire transfers to purchase something in Poland to get shipped over either into Ukraine or to be used for the refugees in Poland,” he noted.
Faunce is grateful for all the donations so far.
“I really have learned that all you need to do is ask in this town and people will come together and will do what they need to do to help,” he said. “If there is something positive to be had about it, it is the fact that in this town, no matter what our differences are with anything else, if there’s a need, everybody comes running, and they will fill that need.”
For more information on how to help Ukraine’s relief efforts, visit Faunce’s Facebook page.
