Lockport Holds Collection Drive For Aid To Ukraine

LOCKPORT, IL — Several Lockport area organizations have teamed up to collect items to ship to Ukraine. The drive will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Oct. 31 to Nov. 4 at City Hall gym, 222 E. Ninth St.

"This drive for Ukraine is the second one we have had," Donna Nevels, Special Events Coordinator for the City of Lockport, said.

The City among several local sponsors of the event, which also includes Gary Bronner Country Financial, Annette Parker, LTHS 205 Foundation, and Sts. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Palos Park.

Nevels said the drive in March was an "overwhelming success" and hopes this one will be equally successful.

Those wishing to donate can bring donations to City Hall from Oct. 31 to Nov. 4.

Items needed include: gauze/gauze pads, sterile wipes, blankets, backpacks, sleeping bags, toothbrushes, bandages, Pepto-Bismol chewables, hemostatic swabs and patches, diapers, baby wipes, feminine hygiene products, coloring books, crayons, markers, saline eye drops, over-the-counter cold and flu medicine, and over-the-counter pain relievers.

No clothing or food is needed. Cash and check donations are also accepted and can be made payable to Sts. Peter and Paul Church.

Nevels said volunteers will gather in the gym on Nov. 5 and help load a truck. A parishioner of Sts. Peter and Paulwill drive the supplies to another parishioner in Lisle, where the boxes will be put on pallets.

"When there are enough pallets, the truck will come back to Lisle and drive the load to New Jersey where it will wait for loading to a plane to Poland," Nevels said. "Once in Poland, it will be driven over the border into Ukraine to distribution points."

Nevels, who is a member of Sts. Peter and Paul, said there are many parishioners with family in Ukraine who are trying to leave for the United States.

"We hear stories every Sunday, and how could I not help?" she said.