'We Are Helping With What We Can Do Right Here': Ukrainians, Chicagoans Donate Needed Supplies
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Photos illustrating the Ukraine crisis can make you feel helpless.
Images of refugees leaving everything behind and now just struggling to stay warm, but today, there is a way to show your support.
CBS 2's Meredith Barack reports from Chicago's northwest side where one business is collecting donations.
The number of donations here is overwhelming. Outside Meets Karpaty, volunteers have filled an entire semi already with items like medicine, first-aid kits, and tactical gear.
Then, there is all of this: boxes that will be sent later this week. Right now, their main goal is to get supplies to Ukraine that could save lives.
The shipping service that delivers packages to eastern Europe halted business Tuesday to pack boxes and bins instead.
"We are Ukrainian people. We are helping with what we can do like right here," said Vasyl Shovgenyuk, who donated bulletproof vests.
Vasyl is helping people like his brothers, who are now fighting with the Ukrainian army.
"I asked 'what do you need right now?' He said, 'Bulletproof vest is what we need right now. That's most important.'"
He brought two, costing him more than $600.
"The most important thing is our guys, which they're on the fire line, we need tactical stuff, and night vision, thermal vision, binoculars," said coordinator Vladyslav Pyliavecs.
He's hopeful that all of this, especially medicine and first aid supplies will help save the lives of his friends on the front lines.
All day, donors drove up in their cars, and came on foot. People like Bill Hetland, who had diapers in one hand...
"And I got bandages and stuff. They ran out of first aid kits," Hetland said, and he added that he has no connection to Ukraine but lives nearby and simply wanted to help out.
"It's very disheartening to see what's happening and I just hope it stops soon, Hetland said. "I don't know how, I hope it ends soon for the people of Ukraine."
They will be accepting donations until 8:00 Tuesday night. If you can't make it, they do have an Amazon Wish List set up. Click here for the link and your purchases will come to the shipping site.
