Long Island Cares food bank to ship supplies to Ukraine

One of Long Island’s largest food banks is now helping ship 10,000 pounds of food, clothing and supplies to Ukraine ahead of winter.

Long Island Cares is shipping 21 pallets of materials to Poland on Friday, including nonperishable foods, toiletries, blankets and winter coats. The shipment follows a seven-month supply drive collected by Assemb. Charles Lavine (D-Glen Cove), the Ukrainian Americans of Long Island and the New Jersey-based Hope for Ukraine.

Organizers have been collecting supplies since the Russian invasion began in February, but have been grappling with how to get aid to refugees and displaced Ukrainians in need.

Long Island Cares has been storing supplies at the food bank’s warehouse in Hauppauge, and now has a cargo ship willing to donate a shipping container at the Port of New Jersey to deliver supplies to Poland.

“Winter is coming to Ukraine so the timing is wonderful,” Long Island Cares CEO Paule Pachter said. “We’re heading into winter when people need heavy coats and blankets. There’s an opportunity to help people as the war rages on and the people of Ukraine are displaced.”

Long Island Cares is no longer accepting donations after donations have tapered off the last two months, Pachter said. He said organizers were struggling with shipment costs and aligning an organization willing to accept donations.

Volodymyr Tsyalkovsky, 43, of Great Neck who works with Ukrainian Americans of Long Island, said he came to Long Island 26 years ago but is still trying to help family at home in Ukraine.

“They were fortunate to avoid confrontational areas and I believe everyone in Ukraine, regardless of where they are, are facing uncertainty and trying to figure out how their lives are going to look like moving forward,” he said. “I can’t imagine what they’re going through.”

He began volunteering in March, collecting donations and preparing the shipment with Lavine and Long Island Cares. He said in addition to military support and food, they are focused on supplies for refugees living their daily lives, including household supplies, diapers and preparation for families and soldiers during the winter months.

Lavine said his office was overwhelmed with donations, including bedding, clothing and hygiene products and even a guitar.

“It became obvious with the Russian invasion that people on Long Island with good faith wanted to help the Ukrainian people,” Lavine said. “People contributed not knowing when the materials would be moved to Europe and they did everything they could to help.”

Other Ukrainian organizations said they are only collecting specific items for Ukrainian soldiers.

Oleh Dekajlo, president of the Long Island chapter of the Ukrainian Congressional Committee, said his parish is focusing on military support like thermal underwear, socks, medical supplies and night vision goggles. They are also accepting financial support to buy supplies.

He said they arranged a supplier to Ukraine to make sure shipments aren’t diverted.

Dekajlo said they are unable to ship supplies like bottled waters and some items not in need like previously worn clothing.

“We’re only accepting donations of specific items requested from soldiers of what they need,” he said.