COLUMBIA, S.C. — Students at Heathwood Hall Episcopal School have spent the last few weeks raising money for Ukraine. It's a donation that will change the lives of students on the other side of the globe.
"It's an amazing opportunity to be able to help our neighbors that are so far away," said eighth grader Logan Wells.
She, along with 3 other students, helped raise $500 that was then donated to Ukrainian Patriot, a non-profit on the ground helping those impacted by the war.
Wells says she wanted to raise money for those who aren't getting the same luxury she does. "For me, I love school, and if this was taken away from me, I don't know what I would do. So, this means a lot to me that I can help bring this back to other students."
The money will be used to help keep students safe and in the classroom.
"They cannot go back to normal because they don't have a bomb shelter. Right now, Ukrainians are adapting to a new reality that they do need to have a bomb shelter in order to sustain a normal way of living, so with this donation, we can help them create bomb shelter, have the kids back to school, have the social interaction among each other and not only have school via zoom," said Ana Sazanov, chief development officer for Ukrainian Patriot.
It's a donation that will make a world of difference for those living in the sad reality of war.
"It's not only supporting Ukraine, it's investing in Ukraine. And it's not only investing in Ukraine, it's investing in a free world and democracy. It's investing in freedom," Saznov said. "So, I'm very grateful for the kids to be involved in this and learning a little bit more about the impacts we have, and how we are all connected to each other." She plans to return to Ukraine this summer to work on this project.
In order to help those in Ukraine, Sazonov is asking people to donate to Ukranian Patriot, as they are in need of hygiene kits.