WWW.QNS.COM APRIL 15, 2022 8RIDGEWOOD TIMES
Queens donations for Ukrainian refugees arrive in Kyiv
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
CMOHAMEDSCHNEPSMEDIA.COM
QNS
More than 32 pallets of needed
items collected by a boroughwide
donation drive for Ukrainian refugees
amid the ongoing Russian invasion
have arrived in Kyiv, Councilman Robert
Holden announced on Tuesday, April 5.
The donation drive was sponsored
by Holden, Councilman James Gennaro,
Polish Consul General Adrian Kubicki,
Tony Di Piazza of the Federazione Italo-
Americana Di Brooklyn and Queens,
Associazione Culturale Italiana Di
New York, and other members of the
Queens Delegation and community
organizations.
Originally, the goods were to be lown
to the Polish city of Rzeszow near the
Ukrainian border and distributed to
refugees who led to Poland. But thanks
to the efforts and coordination from
Kubicki, Rzeszow President Konrad
Fijołek and Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko,
organizers of the drive were able to ship
the goods directly to Kyiv in Ukraine.
“It’s great to hear that these supplies
arrived directly and safely where
they’re needed most: the Ukrainian
capital of Kyiv. While just a drop in the
bucket of all the aid being sent from
around the world, it’s a testament to
the generosity and determination of
the people of Queens. I thank all who
donated and got this done,” Holden
said.
For Gennaro, it was an honor to
help organize the drive, which yielded
many useful donations to the people of
Ukraine, he said.
“This was a large-scale, joint effort
that could not happen without the
help of our partners. I’d like to thank
Council member Holden for helping
us coordinate the drive, the Queens
Delegation, Tony Di Piazza, as well as
the several groups and individuals
who have turned this vision into a reality.
I would also like to thank the many
people who came out to donate to this
great cause,” Gennaro said.
The lawmakers had teamed up to
spearhead the initiative with Council
members of the Queens Delegation —
such as Council members Francisco
Moya, Vickie Paladino, Selvena Brooks-
Powers, Linda Lee, Nantasha Williams
and Sandra Ung — who participated by
opening drop-off sites.
The Associazione Culturale
There were a total of 25 sponsors for the drive, assisting with logistics ranging from transport to outreach to nancial
assistance. Photo courtesy of Councilman Robert Holden’s o ce
Italiana Di New York covered the cost
of shipment.
On behalf of Kyiv and the Ukrainian
society, Deputy Mayor-Secretary of
the Kyiv City Council Volodymyr
Bondarenko expressed their gratitude
to the organizations for their continuous
support of Ukraine and for providing
aid for the Kyiv Humanitarian Aid
Center.
“At this dificult time for the city
of Kyiv and throughout Ukraine, we
highly appreciate your unyielding
support and as the unprecedented
aggression against us does not cease,
we continue relying on your further
aid to establish the peaceful future in
Ukraine,” Bondarenko wrote in a letter
to the Italian American Association.
There were a total of 25 sponsors
for the drive, assisting with logistics
ranging from transport to outreach to
inancial assistance.
The long list of sponsors also includes
the Federazione Italo-Americana Di
Brooklyn and Queens, Commendatore
Tony Di Piazza, Commendatore Joseph
Ficalora, ECS Globe Air, WAW Humanitarian
Goods, Fucsia Fitzgerald Nissoli,
Ficalora Family Foundation, the CHAZAQ
Organization, Chaverim of Queens, New
York Community Bank, Maspeth Federal
Savings Bank, Cross County Savings Bank,
Webster Bank, Richmond County Savings
Foundation and Seka Moving Company.
“At this di cult time for the city of Kyiv
and throughout Ukraine, we highly
appreciate your unyielding support and
as the unprecedented aggression against
us does not cease, we continue relying on
your further aid to establish the peaceful
future in Ukraine.”
— Volodymyr Bondarenko
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