Dear Colleagues,
So many times, the UUP Buffalo Center Chapter Outreach person would be asking for something of you – your time, your support, your vote. Today, I ask nothing of you. Rather, today, I offer those of you who are willing, the opportunity to support the Ukraine. This is a uniquely, verifiably legitimate channel to get needed resources to the Ukrainian effort to repulse Putin’s willful invasion.
My longtime friend, John Sozansky, is the current Financial Secretary of the Ukrainian American Civic Center (UACC), and former committee member at Dnipro (one of two Ukrainian groups in WNY). Since the invasion of Crimea, he has been helping organize relief efforts to Ukraine.
The channel for these efforts is the Ukrainian American Freedom Foundation (UAFF). Both the UAFF and the UACC organizations are designated by the IRS as 501(c)(3) – they are tax exempt and Not-for-profits. John tells me of local and Canadian MDs who have gone to Ukraine to see that the supplies are reaching their intended target destinations. The efforts are largely medicinal and humanitarian in nature. The bottleneck at the moment seems to be having the resources to physically send the relief items to Ukraine. So, while any donation is welcomed, there is a specific need for money to transport material to the Ukraine.
For those willing to support Ukraine:
Please make checks payable to: UAFF-Ukrainian Aid Fund
Mail to: UAFF-Dnipro
562 Genesee Street
Buffalo, NY 14214
I hope you might take advantage of the opportunity to confidently send support the Ukraine. You could, if you wanted, indicate you are a member of UUP.
Also, already in service, here in WNY, is Journey’s End Refugee Services https://www.jersbuffalo.org/
The mailing address: 2495 Main Street, Suite 530, Buffalo, NY 14214
These folks serve all peoples forced into refugee status right here in WNY. They are currently helping many from Afghanistan – soon they will be helping those from the Ukraine as well. Here is another opportunity to show how much you care.
In Solidarity,
Mike Formato
UUP Buffalo Center Chapter Outreach Officer