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Date: 3/30/2022
WESTFIELD – State Sen. John Velis and volunteers from St. Mary’s High School collected donations to give to Full Gospel Church on March 25 to aid their efforts to support Ukraine and its people.
Cars were pulling through the parking lot of the Episcopal Church of Atonement and dropping off items needed by Ukrainians impacted by the Russian invasion that began last month. Velis said all of the donations were to be brought to Full Gospel Church to supplement the Westfield church’s ongoing donation drive.
“I see those images of what is going on over there and I can’t even imagine what they are going through,” said Velis. “There is such a clear need for even the most basic things.”
By 5 p.m. on March 25 many boxes of food, hygiene products, clothes, medical supplies, and other essentials had been donated in bulk and packed into a box truck for the delivery. Velis said that members of American Legion Post 124 had brought a large amount of donations earlier in the afternoon.
“I truly believe that every little bit helps with things like this,” said Velis.
The city of Westfield has a high number of Ukrainian and Russian residents, many of whom came to the city as refugees in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Last week, President Joe Biden announced that the U.S. would allow up to 100,000 Ukrainian refugees into the country. Velis said that $10 million was added to the supplemental state budget March 24 in anticipation of refugees arriving and staying in Massachusetts.
“There is going to be a need. That is one of the things that I think makes us special in America is our willingness to step up and help out,” said Velis.