LYNNFIELD — The town may be more than 4,500 miles away from Ukraine, but being a world away isn’t stopping 15-year-old Lynnfield High School sophomore Brendan Sokop’s mission to deliver critically-needed medical supplies to Ukrainians struggling to survive the Russian military invasion.
Working with a Boston-area Ukrainian church and the Sunflower of Peace organization, Sokop organized a grassroots campaign soliciting donations, spreading word on social media that he was conducting a drive. Since starting about a week ago, Sokop has been swamped with donations.
For Sokop, it’s all about democracy, freedom and humanity.
“I feel so lucky that we have freedom in this country, but Ukraine is having a really tough time right now; they are struggling,” he said. “I’ve talked to my friends about what’s happening and we all know that while we are lucky to live where we do, others in Ukraine are not and their freedoms and lives are at risk right now.”
Sokop said he came up with the idea while he and his mother, Kim, were visiting family in Florida during February vacation. He said they shared a sense of desperation watching news coverage of escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine. His mother conducted a Google search, seeking to learn what local churches were doing to help deliver humanitarian aid.
“Two popped up right away, so I Facebook-messaged them and learned that they were both working with the Sunflower of Peace organization,” Kim Sokop said.
Boston-area-based Sunflower of Peace was founded in 2015 after Russia annexed Crimea. Since then, the organization has also provided help to orphans, internally displaced persons, and Ukrainians affected by COVID-19. Since the Russian invasion, the organization has been directing its support to Ukranians who are stuck inside the country, using the sunflower — the national flower of Ukraine — as a worldwide symbol of solidarity for the country and one of resistance for its residents adversely affected by the invasion.
Sokop initially thought about conducting a clothing and baby supplies drive. The mother-son team switched gears after reaching out to Sunflower of Peace.
“My contact at Sunflower of Peace said no; because airplane cargo space was extremely limited, she said it was like gold,” Kim Sokop said. “She said that Poland and Romania were coordinating baby supplies, so what they really needed were medical supplies, small things that wouldn’t take up a lot of space. They said they were only able to run one flight a week, so space was a priority.”
Brendan designed a flyer, which he posted on Instagram. The response was immediate.
“Once that got posted, the word really got out,” Brendan Sokop said. “It started with family and friends who not only were donating items, but sharing the word with everyone. I think that even Maria Goretti Church sent something out on it.”
Brendan devised a collection system, using a large bin in his driveway at 23 Westover Drive for donation drop-offs. Every day after school, he brings the donated items inside to be organized. By early evening, the bin is usually full again.
“It’s crazy but people are also putting stuff outside the box,” Brendan said. “Someone, just the other day, dropped off two large boxes of latex gloves. People have been incredibly generous.”
Among the items most desperately needed are bandages, gloves (sizes medium to large), IV kits, medical scissors, antibiotic cream, tylenol or aspirin, burn aid, and antiseptics.
Other items like toothbrushes and toothpaste have also been donated.
The Sokops plan to continue collecting donations at their Westover Drive home until Tuesday morning. That afternoon, the pair will hop in the car and deliver the items to the St. Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Jamaica Plain. Donated items can also be dropped off at that church on Sunday from 10 a.m. to noon.
Monetary donations can be made directly to Sunflower of Peace at PayPal ME/sunflowerofpeace. For more information about the organization, visit its website, https://www.sunflowerofpeace.com/, or its Facebook page.
Brendan said he plans to continue the drive for as long as it is needed, saying he and his friends know they are incredibly lucky.
“It’s sad knowing that people in the Ukraine don’t have what we have and this is all happening so quickly,” he said. “We will continue to help as long as we are able to. So many people have really bought into this drive. it’s obvious there are people who really want to help.”
