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 .

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

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

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.

害羞草研究所淭hey are already in a humanitarian crisis, but things are only going to get worse,害羞草研究所� said Hallborg.

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

害羞草研究所淵esterday they were hiding in shelters from missiles,害羞草研究所� said Hallborg.

But she said not everyone takes the same precautions.

害羞草研究所淪ome don害羞草研究所檛 and they stay in their apartments, hoping for the best.害羞草研究所�

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

害羞草研究所淪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,害羞草研究所� said Hallborg.

Another friend 害羞草研究所� a teacher 害羞草研究所� 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.

害羞草研究所淚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.害羞草研究所�

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.

害羞草研究所淥n Saturday I was helpless, angry, disoriented and fearful, yet brave. It is a mix of feelings 害羞草研究所� 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.害羞草研究所�

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.

害羞草研究所淢any were crying with us and praying for Ukraine,害羞草研究所� she said.

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

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

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

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

害羞草研究所淢y friends really appreciated it. I didn害羞草研究所檛 know if they would care about what happened in some small town across the ocean 害羞草研究所� but they actually did care.害羞草研究所�

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

害羞草研究所淪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.害羞草研究所�

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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