South Jersey Shop Sends Uniforms To Residents Of Ukraine

SWEDESBORO, NJ — In his 11-plus years of owning and running Grandpops Army Navy store in Swedesboro, Joe Musumeci said he had never thought much about helping people a half a world away.

However, that changed when two women — Victoria Veretchak and Marta Makar — who grew up in Ukraine — approached him shortly after Russian President Vladimir Putin's troops invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24.

After hearing the women describe Putin's threats to any country that tried to help Ukraine, and how some of those still in the country wanted to fight the enemy but "didn't have money to buy uniforms to do so," the trio came up with the idea of providing uniforms to those in Ukraine.

To help the trio in their effort, visit Musumeci's shop or visit its website (www.grandpopsarmynavy.com) and select the uniforms that you want to be sent to Ukraine. Or, make a financial donation and let the trio decide what uniforms would be best to send.

Veretchak and Makar cover the costs and handle the logistics of shipping the uniforms to Ukraine, Musumeci said.

He added he does not know how long he will keep up his philanthropic effort.

"I told them as long as you want me to do this, I'll do this. I'll stop when you say stop," Musumeci said.

Grandpops Army Navy Store is located at 505 Auburn Ave. in Swedesboro and is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day but Sunday.

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