Hadley Businessman Arrives In Poland To Help Ukrainian Refugees
HADLEY (CBS) -- People from all walks of life are reaching out and trying to ease the suffering of the Ukrainian people. Among them, is a Massachusetts businessman with ties to the region.
Paul Kozub's business, V1 Vodka is based in Hadley, but makes most of its products in eastern Poland.
Kozub arrived in Poland Sunday. He plans on making his way toward the Ukrainian border in the coming days to do what he can to assist fleeing refugees.
He'll hand out case to those who have left everything behind. So far, he's raised more than $10,000, most is from donations from people here at home.
"I want to go to the border to help people who are directly coming across and giving them some financial assistance. If it's not enough, I at least want people to know that people in the United States support them and support the people of Ukraine, that they didn't deserve any of this," Kozub said.
He said he'll be there for about a week.
Multiple communities held supply drives on Sunday to gather materials to send to Ukraine and Poland.
"It's very personal for us," said Jane Yavarow. "I have fielded so many emails and so many texts from so many wonderful, kind and considerate people who just want to help."
Yavarow helped lead a medical supply drive at her church in Jamaica Plain. Her family immigrated to the United States from Ukraine in 1910 and has stayed in touch with relatives in the country ever since.
Yavarow said the materials are being sent straight to their community partners on the ground in Ukraine.
It was a similar story in Marblehead, where members of the Jewish Teen Initiative packed boxes of supplies to make soup, along with handwritten cards.
"You can't combat things alone," said Sofia Vatnik. Her parents immigrated from Russia 30 years ago. "So, building that community and educating each other and coming together is really important to peace."
Brett Lubarsky leads the organization. "Our teens came to me and said, 'We are watching the news, we want to be able to make a difference.' So, here we are," Lubarsky said.