How to help send medical supplies to Ukraine
Regis student Olivier Sokolowski works to get needed aid to besieged nation
When Regis junior Olivier Sokolowski’s family members in Poland learned that Russian tanks were rolling into Ukraine last week, they quickly drove east across Poland’s border with Ukraine to evacuate family members living in that country. Everyone made it out safely — and now, Sokolowski’s family is turning its attention to aiding Ukrainians in need.
Sokolowski, an accounting major, said after his Ukrainian family members evacuated from the western part of the country, they began helping send caravans filled with supplies to Ukraine’s border. Here in Colorado, Sokolowski is working to raise awareness about how Americans can help Ukrainians.
“There's a lot of pain within the Polish and Ukrainian communities because of the war,” he said. “And as of now, they're coming together to see what they can do and to donate whatever is possible.”
As part of his efforts, Sokolowski has been working with Ukrainians in Colorado, a nonprofit that works to preserve Ukrainian heritage in the United States, and now is collecting medical supplies to send to Ukraine. To view a list of urgently needed supplies, visit this spreadsheet.
Ukrainians of Colorado is accepting medical supplies at the following locations:
East Alameda Dental
14591 E. Alameda Ave.
Aurora, CO 80012
9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday
West Arvada Pharmacy
10382 Ralston Rd. Arvada, CO 80004
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday
Marak Baravik Family Practice
13710 E. Rice Place
Aurora, CO 80015
A collection drive for needed medical and hygiene supplies is also being held on campus, in support of the efforts. Collection sites are located in the St. John Francis Regis Chapel and the Dayton Memorial Library.
The organization also is accepting checks to help with shipping costs. Checks can be made out to Ukrainians of Colorado, and mailed to P.O. Box 150054, Lakewood, Colo., 80215. Electronic donations may be sent via Zelle to the nonprofit as well; as part of this process, add Ukrainians of Colorado to your contacts with the email ukrainiansofcolorado@gmail.com.
View more ways to help Ukraine here.
Sokolowski, whose parents are from Poland, said he visited Lviv, Ukraine in 2017 with his family, and before the pandemic, he traveled to Poland each summer. He often sees images of the places he’s visited in coverage of the conflict.
“Polish people and Ukrainian people — when there's crisis, we help each other,” he said. “My community of Regis can be a lot of help.”
Photo: Regis junior Olivier Sokolowski, right, smiles for a photo in 2017 in the Carpathian Mountains of Ukraine with Anna, Antonina and Nazar Blyashyn, who were able to evacuate their homes in the country last week.
