Carmel residents step up to provide support for people of Ukraine
By Ariana Jaso
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CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA, California (KSBW) — On Sunday, a small group of locals in Carmel held a fundraiser to help people in Ukraine, as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continues to displace civilians.
Carmel resident, Sharon Richards called on other locals in the area and organized the fundraiser at her home, to donate money in support of Ukraine.
“We’re very concerned and care very much about what’s happening in the Ukraine and we want to do what little bit we could to support them,” Richards said.
Richards hung blue and yellow around her house and fed guests Ukrainian food. She also invited guest speaker Igor Poklad— a Monterey resident who was born in Ukraine. Some of Poklad’s family is still living in the besieged country. On Sunday, he shared stories about what his family is going through on the ground in the Southern Ukrainian city of Odessa.
“There’s silence blaring every night almost. The planes are flying. Every night, they have to run down to the shelter to hide, so you can imagine they’re not getting any sleep,” Poklad said.
He said thankfully his sister-in-law, a young mother expecting her second child was able to flee but her journey hasn’t been easy.
“My wife right now is in Romania. She just met her sister who’s pregnant, who has a 14-month-old baby on her hands. So she was able to get out of Ukraine and get to Romania to safety. So they’re meeting there right now and at least she is safe for now,” he said.
Some of his other family members, including his aunt are refusing to leave, vowing to stay and resist the Russian forces.
“She hates Putin so much that she feels ashamed even thinking of leaving or abandoning her land. Throughout the day, she says the stores are open, you can buy food but it’s difficult, there are long lines,” Poklad said.
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