Castlegar resident Olga Hallborg has been feeling helpless as she watches from afar as her hometown of Mykolaiv, Ukraine is battered by Russian airstrikes.

That feeling changed somewhat after a crowd gathered in front of Castlegar City Hall on Sunday to show support for Ukrainians suffering under the recent .

含羞草研究社淲e did something good by gathering and encouraging people to support Ukrainian people through the Canadian Red Cross and other organizations,含羞草研究社� said Hallborg, who organized the gathering.

含羞草研究社淪o I feel less helpless and more empowered through the community support 含羞草研究社� My heart is filled with appreciation and hope.含羞草研究社�

Hallborg has been in contact with friends and family members in Mykolaiv, a city of 500,000 near the Black Sea in southern Ukraine, throughout the invasion.

What she has heard is that the people are in need of food, clothing, shelter and medications as homes and apartment buildings are destroyed, hospitals are treating the wounded and the shelves of grocery stores are emptied.

Photos and video footage from the city show damage to the point that Hallborg says she has a hard time recognizing parts of her hometown. Blown-up tanks, shattered glass and rubble fill the streets.

含羞草研究社淭hey are already in a humanitarian crisis, but things are only going to get worse,含羞草研究社� said Hallborg.

She is trying to keep close tabs on those she loves 含羞草研究社� checking in with as many of them as possible first thing every morning and again at the end of the day.

含羞草研究社淵esterday they were hiding in shelters from missiles,含羞草研究社� said Hallborg.

But she said not everyone takes the same precautions.

含羞草研究社淪ome don含羞草研究社檛 and they stay in their apartments, hoping for the best.含羞草研究社�

When Hallborg connected with one of her friends 含羞草研究社� a physician 含羞草研究社� she was making a long walk to work since transportation is unavailable. Rather than hide in a shelter, she is trudging on.

含羞草研究社淪he feels like she needs to continue to provide people with care. Nobody discontinued COVID there, people are still getting sick, now probably more than ever,含羞草研究社� said Hallborg.

Another friend 含羞草研究社� a teacher 含羞草研究社� is doing the same. Even though school is not in session, teachers are trying to check on the well being of students and trying to connect them with learning opportunities.

As Hallborg connects with her relatives, what she hears impacts her across the miles.

含羞草研究社淚f their night was a nightmare, I can not get settled and I am trying to think about what I can do and how I can help.含羞草研究社�

And that is partially how she came up with the idea for a local rally and campaign to encourage people to donate to Ukrainians in need.

含羞草研究社淥n Saturday I was helpless, angry, disoriented and fearful, yet brave. It is a mix of feelings 含羞草研究社� wishing I was there to help, but at the same time, being relieved that my immediate family and myself are safe here. They are very contradictory feelings that are hard to explain.含羞草研究社�

Hallborg said the local support, plus what she has seen across Canada and the world, even including protests in Russia, has touched her heart. Especially touching was the support from those with Russian Doukhobor heritage.

含羞草研究社淢any were crying with us and praying for Ukraine,含羞草研究社� she said.

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Hallborg says there was a lot of emotion at the local gathering.

含羞草研究社淚 understand the anger against Russia in general, but we shouldn含羞草研究社檛 be hating Russians 含羞草研究社� not every Russian person wanted the war. It is a very complex history between Russia and Ukraine.

含羞草研究社淚 am very angry with [Russian President Vladimir] Putin and his government. I blame money and the desire for power 含羞草研究社� greediness is what brought about this aggression.含羞草研究社�

Hallborg has sent images, messages and news of donations to humanitarian organizations from the rally on to her contacts in Ukraine.

含羞草研究社淢y friends really appreciated it. I didn含羞草研究社檛 know if they would care about what happened in some small town across the ocean 含羞草研究社� but they actually did care.含羞草研究社�

One of those friends posted photos of the rally to informational Facebook groups in Mykolaiv.

含羞草研究社淪he said those pictures of us in Castlegar, standing with our posters and Ukrainian flags showed people that somewhere in the world, people cared about them.含羞草研究社�

If you would like to send help to Ukraine, donations can be made through the and the .

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betsy.kline@castlegarnews.com
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