Suffolk To Collect Donations For Ukraine; Bellone Condemns Russia

HAUPPAUGE, NY — Suffolk County is set to join with local houses of worship to support Ukrainian citizens disrupted by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Executive Steve Bellone announced on Tuesday.

The county and the houses of worship plan to collect donations, mainly medical and hygiene items, which will then be sent to Ukrainians dealing with the devastating disruption. The county will also indefinitely illuminate the H. Lee Dennison Building of Hauppauge in blue in yellow in solidarity with the people of Ukraine.

"I think all of us who have watched what has happened and transpired over the past week in Eastern Europe in Ukraine have been horrified and repulsed by what we have seen," Bellone said. "What we are seeing happen on the ground is a depiction of good versus evil. There is no other way to describe it. You have civilians being targeted by a brutal aggressor — a dictator — in Russia that is running roughshod over international rules, norms, and law. The tragedy is being played out in the loss of lives. Children being killed, civilians seeing their homes destroyed, hundreds of thousands of people having to flee their homes and their country, becoming refugees, all for nothing except for the advancement of a brutal dictator and his own interests. It is absolutely horrifying."

Bellone said he has seen U.S. citizens show horror at what has happened but also believes Americans have been inspired by the Ukrainian people and their response to the Russian incursion led by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"Our message today is that we stand with our Ukrainian brothers and sisters," Bellone said. "We stand with them, we support them, and we will be with them through this incredible trial and tragedy that they are experiencing."

Suffolk has partnered with three churches: Saints Peter and Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Church of West Islip; Holy Family Ukrainian Catholic Church of Lindenhurst; and St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church of Riverhead.

Each church, along with the H. Lee Dennison Building, will serve as drop-off sites for donations of medical and hygiene supplies. The donations will be sent to people in Ukraine. The collection starts Tuesday and will run through at least Friday.

Items being asked for include first-aid kits, bandaids, gauze, Advil, Tylenol, toothbrushes, toothpaste, baby diapers, shampoo, conditioner, and deodorant.

Bellone said Suffolk is with Ukraine for the long haul.

"Sometimes, it takes a tragedy to remind a nation of what is important and what is core to who we are and what we believe," Bellone said. "I think we're seeing that as well here [in the U.S.]"

Russia on Feb. 24 launched a three-sided assault on Ukraine, bringing explosions to the country's capital, Kyiv, and other cities.

People across the U.S. have supported Ukraine and condemned Russia for the attacks.