Detroit Leads U.S. Cities in Response to Ukraine Humanitarian Catastrophe
Detroit, MI (PRWEB) June 26, 2015 -- Save Ukraine Now (http://www.saveukrainenow.org), a non-partisan, inter-faith coalition formed to alleviate Ukraine’s humanitarian catastrophe, today announced the success of its Detroit Ukraine Survival campaign to fill shipping containers with emergency supplies for more than 1.3 million refugees.
Working in conjunction with the Ukrainian-American Civic Committee and local faith communities, the campaign has packed hundreds of boxes with clothes and basic necessities of life, as well as obtaining larger items such as hospital beds and wheelchairs.
Mayor James Fouts of Warren, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit, led a city-wide initiative by placing receptacles for collecting clothes on city property and including a flyer with residents’ water bills requesting donations.
Ulana Kushner, President of the Detroit Ukrainian-American Civic Committee, said, “We were amazed and overwhelmed to have so many people respond to our plea. Contributors came from a wide cross-section of our society, the young and the old, the wealthy and the poor. Together, they have renewed my faith in the generosity of the American people.”
Kushner went on to describe the importance of recent events in Detroit in spurring donations. More than 1,000 people participated in the Detroit launch of Ukraine Survival, attending a regional prayer breakfast, a fundraising banquet and a strategic briefing by General (ret.) Wesley Clark, the Chairman of the Board of Save Ukraine Now.
Save Ukraine Now has also received support in the Detroit region from Epic Events, a local organization which creates charity events. They have planned a cruise on the Detroit River on June 28th to raise awareness and funds for Save Ukraine Now’s Ukraine Survival campaign. On October 23rd, the International Institute of Metropolitan Detroit is planning a "Children Helping Children" talent show at the Detroit Opera House to benefit Save Ukraine Now, a Syrian refugee relief organization and an African organization yet to be named.
Save Ukraine Now is enlisting hundreds of faith-based and civic organizations to participate in Ukraine Survial and envisions events in other U.S. cities similar to Detroit. It has published all the materials needed to organize a container campaign at http://www.saveukrainenow.org/ukraine-survival.html.
The President of Save Ukraine Now, Dr. Gary Kellner, concluded, “The Detroit team has set the benchmark for a successful city-wide container campaign. We anticipate replicating their broad-based coalition in cities throughout the United States to raise awareness about the conflict in eastern Ukraine and awaken the inherent generosity of the American people.”
For more information about Save Ukraine Now, please call 404-862-8183, email info(at)saveukrainenow(dot)org or visit http://www.saveukrainenow.org. Save Ukraine Now also publishes a blog with the latest information about Ukraine at http://www.saveukrainenow.org/blog.
About Save Ukraine Now
Save Ukraine Now (http://www.saveukrainenow.org) assists refugees and needy persons suffering due to the humanitarian crisis in eastern Ukraine. Founded by Dr. Gary Kellner, a professional with more than 15 years of experience directing social programs in Ukraine, Save Ukraine Now works with a micro-distribution network of 12,000-to-15,000 local Ukrainian churches, synagogues and civic organizations. The Ukrainian Office of Presidential Administration is supplying trucks and security. Save Ukraine Now has achieved a new paradigm for emergency relief, combining government agencies, NGOs and faith-based organizations to accomplish its goals.
Gary Kellner, Save Ukraine Now, http://www.saveukrainenow.org/, 716-713-3198, [email protected]
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