Queens launches supply drives for Ukraine
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Medical and household items are being collected to help refugees at the borough president’s office this week. Photo via Rhododendrites/Wikimedia commons
By Rachel Vick
As the invasion of Ukraine continues, elected officials and residents from the World’s Borough are stepping up to support resistors and refugees in need with a series of donation drives.
One supply drive, organized by Councilmembers James Gennaro and Robert Holden in partnership with The Associazione Culturale Italiana Di New York rallied members of the Queens delegation to sponsor supply drives across the borough and ship the goods to refugees in Rzeszow, Poland.
Well over half of Queens’ City Council delegation will host supply drives in the next week.
“The images on television really did it. What's going on is really terrible and these people just need help,” Tony Di Piazza of the Federazione Italo-Americana Di Brooklyn and Queens told the Eagle on behalf of himself and Joseph Ficalora from the Associazione Cuturale Italiana Di New York. “We have always been there, whether Italian disasters, the World Trade Center or Sri Lanka — we've raised money for those occasions so we couldn't turn a blind eye with what's going on in Ukraine.”
“We’re living in a real time world and what's going on is devastating,” he added. “We’ve been lucky; I've been lucky in achieving what I have in the United States so giving back to the world is not going to change my life, but it hopefully will help somebody else’s life.”
Di Piazza, who began the discussion with Holden about the drive, and Ficalora are donating $100,000 to help the cause.
Canned food, clothing, children's toys without batteries, sealed pet food and toiletries, non-perishable food, clothes and footwear, thermal underwear, hygiene products, blankets, bedding, first aid kits, tents, mattresses, sleeping bags, standalone lamps and candles are all being accepted across the eight drop off sites.
Sites include Councilmember Vickie Paladino’s office at 20-15 Francis Lewis Blvd., in Whitestone, Councilmember Selvena Brooks-Powers’ office at 1931 Mott Ave., Suite 410 in Far Rockaway and Councilmember Linda Lee’s office at 73-03 Bell Blvd., in Oakland Gardens. All are accepting donations from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through March 11.
Councilmember Nantasha Williams is accepting donations from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 122-05 Smith St., in Jamaica and Councilmember Sandra Ung is hosting a site from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at 135-27 38th Ave., Suite 388 in Flushing through March 11.
On March 10, Gennaro is partnering with CHAZAQ for a drive from 4 to 7 p.m. at 141-47 72 Ave. in Kew Gardens Hills and Councilmember Francisco Moya’s office will accept dropoffs at 106-01 Corona Ave. in Corona from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Holden and the Associazone Culturale Italiana Di New York are accepting donations at 66-31 Fresh Pond Rd., in Ridgewood on March 12 and 13 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
"As the invasion of Ukraine touches the world, I'm proud that my fellow New Yorkers of many diverse cultures in Queens are once again eager to help,” Holden said. “I thank all who donate these badly needed items and all who made this drive possible… who have come together to show the world that we care about the people of Ukraine.”
On Monday, Borough President Donovan Richards announced an ongoing donation drive to collect medical supplies for Ukraine.
“In less than two weeks, Vladimir Putin’s vile and illegal invasion of Ukraine has already claimed thousands of lives and forced more than 1 million innocent families to flee their beloved homeland,” Richards said. “Those who have remained in Ukraine are in desperate need of medical supplies, especially as the Russian government recklessly escalates its brutality against the local population.”
“We encourage all Queens residents to consider donating in support of the proud and courageous Ukrainian people who have inspired us all,” he added
First-aid kits, bandages, gauze, tourniquets and over-the-counter medications including Aspirin, Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen will be accepted. Donations can be placed in the box inside the lobby of Borough Hall, which is open 24 hours a day.
Kevin Ly and Amanda Deebrah of Richards’ Queens General Assembly helped launch the drive, taking place in tandem with similar efforts from the city’s 77 NYPD precincts. The NYPD drive was organized by Russian NYPD Officer and President of the Russian American Officers Association Artem Kuzmin and Ukrainian NYPD Officer Stanislav Zubyk, AMNY reported.
“Our mission is to help the people of Ukraine that are going through a crisis right now,” Kuzmin said during the initial announcement. “We’re standing here united.”
