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 .

sa国际传媒淲e did something good by gathering and encouraging people to support Ukrainian people through the Canadian Red Cross and other organizations,sa国际传媒� said Hallborg, who organized the gathering.

sa国际传媒淪o I feel less helpless and more empowered through the community support sa国际传媒� My heart is filled with appreciation and hope.sa国际传媒�

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.

sa国际传媒淭hey are already in a humanitarian crisis, but things are only going to get worse,sa国际传媒� said Hallborg.

She is trying to keep close tabs on those she loves sa国际传媒� checking in with as many of them as possible first thing every morning and again at the end of the day.

sa国际传媒淵esterday they were hiding in shelters from missiles,sa国际传媒� said Hallborg.

But she said not everyone takes the same precautions.

sa国际传媒淪ome donsa国际传媒檛 and they stay in their apartments, hoping for the best.sa国际传媒�

When Hallborg connected with one of her friends sa国际传媒� a physician sa国际传媒� she was making a long walk to work since transportation is unavailable. Rather than hide in a shelter, she is trudging on.

sa国际传媒淪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,sa国际传媒� said Hallborg.

Another friend sa国际传媒� a teacher sa国际传媒� 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.

sa国际传媒淚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.sa国际传媒�

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.

sa国际传媒淥n Saturday I was helpless, angry, disoriented and fearful, yet brave. It is a mix of feelings sa国际传媒� 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.sa国际传媒�

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.

sa国际传媒淢any were crying with us and praying for Ukraine,sa国际传媒� she said.

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

sa国际传媒淚 understand the anger against Russia in general, but we shouldnsa国际传媒檛 be hating Russians sa国际传媒� not every Russian person wanted the war. It is a very complex history between Russia and Ukraine.

sa国际传媒淚 am very angry with [Russian President Vladimir] Putin and his government. I blame money and the desire for power sa国际传媒� greediness is what brought about this aggression.sa国际传媒�

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

sa国际传媒淢y friends really appreciated it. I didnsa国际传媒檛 know if they would care about what happened in some small town across the ocean sa国际传媒� but they actually did care.sa国际传媒�

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

sa国际传媒淪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.sa国际传媒�

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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