HAYES IN UKRAINE continued from 27
David and Shelly have two children, daughter Alyssa Stanley, who teaches at Brown County Middle School; and Paul, who is an administrative and outreach professional at Brown County Visitor’ s Bureau and the chamber of commerce.
The ongoing war between Russian and Ukraine began in 2014 and included the Russian annexation of Crimea. Russia launched a new full-scale invasion on February 24, a campaign which has resulted in thousands of civilian casualties, widespread destruction, with reports of human rights violations and wartime atrocities.
Accurate statistics are hard to get. During the first six weeks of the war, the Associated Press reported 4.5 million Ukrainians became refugees from the fighting, and the total continues to grow. Estimates of civilian deaths in the war ranged from 2,000 to more than 23,000, depending on the source. The economy was shattered, buildings and infrastructure stood in ruin.
“ If Russia levels every building and kills everybody in their way, the people of Ukraine will still fight.
They won’ t quit. Their resilience comes from a love of freedom,” David said.
He said there are many ways Americans can help Ukraine in its struggle against Russia. Among his favorites are the Nazarene Compassionate Ministries and Come Back Alive. He also urges people to write to their senators and representatives in Congress, and to President Biden, urging them to support aid to Ukraine.
Shelly’ s Clay Purl yarn shop is accepting donations to help victims of the war, and 100 percent of the money donated will go directly to Ukrainian relief through the Nazarene Compassionate Ministries charity.
“ Ukraine has never been‘ Russia,’ they have their own beautiful and rich history,” Shelly said.“ They have been oppressed, and murdered senselessly under the czars, under the Soviets, and now by the Russians. They will not give up their homeland. We are seeing their grit, their fortitude, and their love of their land, their freedom, and their democracy. They are a proud people— as they should be. They will not quit, and they deserve our support so that they may continue to live free.” •
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May / June 2022 • Our Brown County 31