How funds raised in Rockford will be used to treat wounded in war-torn Ukraine

Jeff Kolkey, Rockford Register Star
·2 min read
A Ukrainian serviceman aims towards Russian positions outside the city of Brovary, east of Kyiv, on March 9, 2022.
A Ukrainian serviceman aims towards Russian positions outside the city of Brovary, east of Kyiv, on March 9, 2022.

ROCKFORD — With combat raging in and around Rockford's sister city of Brovary, Ukraine, east of Kyiv, a coalition of local organizations has collected more than $80,000 as part of a relief effort.

Jim Rosene, president of Kids Around the World, said that the organization tapped its contacts in Romania and Europe to purchase 8½ pallets of medical supplies. Those supplies were to include pain killers, antibiotics and sedatives needed to equip field hospitals.

Rosene said the plan was to ship the medicines to Brovary, the scene of recent intense fighting, via truck as part of a United Nations humanitarian aid convoy from Romania.

"Medicine was requested by the mayor's office in Brovary more than anything," Rosene said, adding that they were also looking to acquire diesel generators that were requested. "We are doing all that we can do to make sure the supplies get there."

Mayor Tom McNamara said the Brovary Relief Fund is just one of many efforts in the Rockford region raising money and supplies to benefit Ukrainians who are the victims of what he said was Russian President Vladimir Putin's "murderous" war of choice.

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Brovary was designated a sister city of Rockford in 1992. Kids Around the World got its start installing playgrounds in Brovary and has also installed playgrounds in Romania.

The relief fund was established with a $5,000 donation from the Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau Foundation and another $5,000 donation from the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois. To deliver the aid, they teamed with Kids Around the World which has contacts in the region.

Residents can still donate by visiting the websites for Kids Around the World, 5245 28th Ave, Rockford, IL 61109, or the Community Foundation, 946 N 2nd St, Rockford, IL 61107. Checks can be mailed to either organization as well with "Brovary Relief Fund" in the memo line.

"Lots of people are doing small, but really wonderful things," McNamara said. "I am not surprised by the generosity, but just humbled by it. For most people giving, they don't know one person there. That's just Rockford. They see an issue or a problem, they give."

Jeff Kolkey: (815) 987-1374; jkolkey@rrstar.com; @jeffkolkey

This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Rockford raises more than $80K to help the people of Brovary, Ukraine