It’s important to talk to your kids about what’s happening in Ukraine— and it’s also important to show them how they can take action for this cause. Kids who live in Westchester — which is home to one of the biggest Ukrainian communities in New York — are hearing stories about bloody battles and misplaced families, and they should know that there are local opportunities for them to help. This is a great time for Westchester parents to model local charitable behavior and show their kids how to make a difference to people in need.
Westchester Families Can Make Donations to Ukraine
Go online with your kids so they can witness your donations to worldwide organizations that are helping Ukraine, like the Red Cross, UNICEF, The World Kitchen, Airbnb and Razom.
Locally, the AYFA Foundation in Yonkers, which collects unused medical supplies and equipment from the New York metro area and ships them to under resourced and compromised health systems all over the globe, is asking for donations so they can continue to help send materials to Ukraine. Americares, based nearby in Stamford, CT, are helping Ukrainians prepare for and recover from disaster.
The Rotary Club of the Tarrytowns is collecting funds for the World Central Kitchen to help feed Ukrainian refugees. Also in Tarrytown, the Fred Astaire Dance Studios’ “Stand with Ukraine” ongoing fundraiser is collecting donations.
ASVAC, the Ardsley-Secor Volunteer Ambulance Corps., is donating tourniquets to the Ukrainian city of Lviv, which has recently become a shelling target. They are accepting donations to help with this effort that will aid both soldiers on the battlefield and innocent civilians hit by enemy fire.
Where in Westchester to Donate Supplies for Ukraine
The Shames JCC is collecting medical equipment, personal hygiene products and hand sanitizer. These will go straight to the AYFA Foundation, which along with the UJA-Federation of New York, is shipping wound care, surgical equipment and biomedical equipment to frontline providers at the Main Military Hospital in Kiev. You can drop these materials in the JCC lobby beginning March 5.
Irvington resident Anna Plundo is collecting medical equipment like disposable resuscitators, survival wrap packs and woven sterile sponges for Razom Emergency Response. Many Westchester locals like Irvington resident Natalia Portier, have set up Amazon wish lists with supplies needed in Ukraine.
The Hastings nursing home Andrus on Hudson is collecting and donating supplies like sterile supplies, antibiotics and surgical masks to humanitarian organizations who will send these much-needed provisions to Ukraine.
Westchester Fundraisers for Ukraine
On March 27, The Tarrytown Music Hall is hosting “A Show of Caring, a Concert to Benefit Ukraine,” a program of international music performed by local Ukrainian artist Irena Portenko on piano, Metropolitan Opera bass Stefan Szkafarowsky, and the Ukrainian “Dumka” Chorus (seen on Saturday Night Live) — plus countertenor Jeffrey Charles Palmer and pianist Svetlana Gorokhovich. Tickets can be purchased here and all proceeds after ticket fees will be donated to charities supporting Ukrainian rescue efforts, including razomforukraine.org and unitedhelpukraine.org.
On March 25, Game Night! Euchre for Ukraine in Sleepy Hollow invites adults to join Into Leaf: A Workshop Series for a drop-in BYOB Game Night at the Hudson Valley Writers Center. This month the focus is on EUCHRE, a fun and easy-to-learn card game that’s all the rage in the Midwest. The entry fee ($25) and all profits go to Razom for Ukraine. Registration required: intoleaf.co/workshops/p/euchre.
On April 2, Boundless Adventures, the awesome aerial adventure park in Purchase, is hosting a “Glow in the Park” Ukraine fundraiser for Doctors Without Borders, where kids and parents can climb and swing through a glow-in-the-dark park.
From June 17-19, the annual Yonkers Ukrainian Heritage Festival — featuring rides, games, music and Ukrainian cuisine on the grounds of the St. Michael’s Catholic Church — will raise money for Ukrainian relief organizations.
Westchester families can help the people of Ukraine, and many local organizations are making it easy to contribute. Get the kids involved and make them aware of how possible it is to make a difference in Ukraine — and elswhere.
