Calabasas High School Junior Collects Essential Items For Ukraine

CALABASAS, CA — With a Ukrainian mother and a Russian father, Calabasas High School Junior Sofia Bronshteyn had always heard about Russia-Ukraine relations around the family dinner table.

When Russia invaded Ukraine in February, the photos and stories on the news felt personal to Bronshteyn — places her parents and grandparents grew up in were being destroyed. She knew she had to get involved, so she started to collect donations at her school to benefit the Ukrainian victims of the war.

"In history class … [I’ve always thought,] ‘If I was there, I would've wanted to help people,’" she said. "And now I'm in the historic moment where I have the opportunity to help people.”

What started as a donation drive at Calabasas High School grew to include two local elementary schools, a middle school, the Calabasas Library and the Los Angeles Rams.

Donations now fill over half of Bronshteyn's garage, she said.

Bronshteyn has collected essential items such as hygiene products, nonperishable food and children's items.

She's been amazed by her community's involvement, she said. Once a donation drive ends, people immediately reach out to her to organize another or to schedule a personal donation pickup.

With the rapid growth of her efforts, Bronshteyn is now focused on creating a foundation. Knee-deep in paperwork, Bronshteyn hopes the foundation will encourage more tax deductible donations and allow for greater collaboration with other organizations, she said.

The foundation will be called Sonste, an English transliteration of the Ukrainian word for "sun," symbolizing the light you can bring into someone's light with a donation, she said.

"Now everyone is very involved in technology, but putting your words into actions and making them really happen — even with physical donations it might be a small thing — makes such an impact on someone else's life across the world," Bronshteyn said. She added: "That physical item I think means so much more now that everyone is so connected on the phone."

Bronshteyn plans to continue organizing donations long after the current crisis calms down, and a foundation will help her do that, she said. With more money and resources, she wants to help rebuild Ukraine by providing technology to children for education and sending recreational items for young Ukrainians to find joy.

It's a lot of work, but Bronshteyn has it under control: She is no stranger to juggling responsibilities and keeping organized. Bronshteyn is in the National Honor Society, participates in Model United Nations and is vice president of the Meaningful Teens Club, which teaches English to kids in different countries such as Ukraine.

Bronshteyn hopes her activism is a reminder that generosity is always worthwhile, especially for younger Calabasas students, she said. It has been exciting to know that younger students are excited about donating, she said.

“Because Calabasas is a little bit of a bubble, being able to go outside of the bubble and use your monetary privilege to help other people — I think that’s a really great opportunity for little kids to see. I’ve been hearing from their teachers how proud they are [about their donations]. I think they should be very proud of themselves,” she said.

Bronshteyn collaborated with "Real Housewives of New York City" star Bethenny Frankel's BStrong foundation to help get her donated items to Ukraine.

Readers can stay up to date on Bonshteyn's work by following Sonste on Instagram. Contact Bronshteyn about a donation via email at sonste.foundation@gmail.com.