ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Ukraine’s pleas for help are reaching Central Florida.
Food, water and supplies are dwindling there.
Anton Kaluzhny, a pastor with New Life Charity in Ukraine, said the past 21 days have been about more than just survival.
“We’re fighting for our right to exist,” Kaluzhny said.
New Life Charity is one of the largest evangelical churches helping to keep those still around the capital fed.
Photos: Ukraine continues to fight back against Russia
Day 20 People demonstrate in support of the Ukraine outside the United Nations' top court in The Hague, Netherlands, Wednesday, March 16, 2022, where judges where expected to rule on a request by Ukraine to order Russia to halt its devastating invasion. But it remains to be seen if Moscow would comply with any order made by the International Court of Justice. Russia snubbed a hearing last week at which lawyers for Ukraine accused the country's powerful neighbor of "resorting to tactics reminiscent of medieval siege warfare" in its brutal assault. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong) (Peter Dejong/AP) Day 20 A child's drawing is hung next to a first aid bag inside a military check point, in Lityn, Ukraine, Wednesday, March 16, 2022. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd) (Rodrigo Abd/AP) Day 20 In this photo released by the Ukrainian State Emergency Service press service, firefighters work to extinguish a fire at a market hit by shelling in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, March 16, 2022. (Ukrainian State Emergency Service via AP) (AP) Day 20 In this image from video provided by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office and posted on Facebook, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks to members of the U.S. Congress from Kyiv, Ukraine, on Wednesday, March 16, 2022. Zelenskyy summoned the memory of Pearl Harbor and the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks in appealing to the U.S. Congress to do more to help Ukraine's fight against Russia. President Joe Biden said the U.S. is sending more anti-aircraft, anti-armor weapons and drones. (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP) (AP) Day 20 A soldier drinks tea during a break at a military check point, in Lityn, Ukraine, Wednesday, March 16, 2022. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd) (Rodrigo Abd/AP) Day 20 A volunteer of the Ukrainian Territorial Defense Forces assists a woman to cross the street in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, March 16, 2022. Both Russia and Ukraine projected optimism ahead of another scheduled round of talks Wednesday, even as Moscow’s forces rained fire on Kyiv and other major cities in a bid to crush the resistance that has frustrated Kremlin hopes for a lightning victory. (AP Photo/Andrew Marienko) (Andrew Marienko/AP) Day 20 Ukrainian military servicemen prepare to fire salutes during the funeral of their comrades, Roman Rak and Mykola Mykytiuk, in Starychi, western Ukraine, Wednesday, March 16, 2022. Rak and Mykytiu were killed during Sunday's Russian missile strike on a military training base in Yavoriv. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue) (Bernat Armangue/AP) Day 20 Soldiers carry wooden logs while building a trench, in Lityn, Ukraine, Wednesday, March 16, 2022. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd) (Rodrigo Abd/AP) Day 20 A Ukrainian National guard soldier inspects a Russian damaged military vehicle in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, March 16, 2022. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg made it clear Tuesday that the 30-nation military alliance is set to radically change its security stance in Europe in response to Russia's war on Ukraine. (AP Photo/Andrew Marienko) (Andrew Marienko/AP) Day 20 A view of a bomb crater after Russian shelling in the central of Kharkiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, March 16, 2022. (AP Photo/Pavel Dorogoy) (Pavel Dorogoy/AP) Day 20 A family who fled the war in Ukraine wait for a bus at the border crossing in Medyka, Poland, on Wednesday, March 16, 2022. Russia's military forces are blasting Ukraine's capital region and other major cities as they try to crush a Ukrainian defense that has frustrated their progress nearly three weeks after invading. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris) (Petros Giannakouris/AP) Day 20 A man walk with his son in Vinnytsia, Ukraine, Wednesday, March 16, 2022. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd) (Rodrigo Abd/AP) Day 20 A soldier look through binoculars at a military check point, in Lityn, Ukraine, Wednesday, March 16, 2022. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd) (Rodrigo Abd/AP) Day 20 Funeral procession of Ukrainian military servicemen Roman Rak and Mykola Mykytiuk in Starychi, western Ukraine, Wednesday, March 16, 2022. Rak and Mykytiu were killed during Sunday's Russian missile strike on a military training base in Yavoriv. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue) (Bernat Armangue/AP) Day 20 A volunteer of the Ukrainian Territorial Defense Forces stands next to his APC in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, March 16, 2022. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg made it clear Tuesday that the 30-nation military alliance is set to radically change its security stance in Europe in response to Russia's war on Ukraine. (AP Photo/Andrew Marienko) (Andrew Marienko/AP) Day 20 Damaged vehicles and buildings in Kharkiv city center in Ukraine, Wednesday, March 16, 2022. Both Russia and Ukraine projected optimism ahead of another scheduled round of talks Wednesday, even as Moscow's forces rained fire on Kyiv and other major cities in a bid to crush the resistance that has frustrated Kremlin hopes for a lightning victory. (AP Photo/Pavel Dorogoy) (Pavel Dorogoy/AP) Day 20 A Ukrainian firefighter works by a destroyed apartment building in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, March 16, 2022. Both Russia and Ukraine projected optimism ahead of another scheduled round of talks Wednesday, even as Moscow's forces rained fire on Kyiv and other major cities in a bid to crush the resistance that has frustrated Kremlin hopes for a lightning victory. (AP Photo/Andrew Marienko) (Andrew Marienko/AP) Day 20 An elderly woman cries during the funeral procession of Ukrainian military servicemen Roman Rak and Mykola Mykytiuk in Starychi, western Ukraine, Wednesday, March 16, 2022. Rak and Mykytiu were killed during Sunday's Russian missile strike on a military training base in Yavoriv. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue) (Bernat Armangue/AP) Day 20 Damaged military ammunition in a military truck in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, March 16, 2022. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg made it clear Tuesday that the 30-nation military alliance is set to radically change its security stance in Europe in response to Russia's war on Ukraine. (AP Photo/Andrew Marienko) (Andrew Marienko/AP) Day 20 A woman reacts during the funeral procession for Ukrainian military servicemen Roman Rak and Mykola Mykytiuk in Starychi, western Ukraine, Wednesday, March 16, 2022. Rak and Mykytiu were killed during Sunday's Russian missile strike on a military training base in Yavoriv. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue) (Bernat Armangue/AP) Day 20 A damaged military vehicle seen in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, March 16, 2022. Both Russia and Ukraine projected optimism ahead of another scheduled round of talks Wednesday, even as Moscow’s forces rained fire on Kyiv and other major cities in a bid to crush the resistance that has frustrated Kremlin hopes for a lightning victory. (AP Photo/Andrew Marienko) (Andrew Marienko/AP) Day 20 A Ukrainian firefighter works near a destroyed apartment building in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, March 16, 2022. Both Russia and Ukraine projected optimism ahead of another scheduled round of talks Wednesday, even as Moscow's forces rained fire on Kyiv and other major cities in a bid to crush the resistance that has frustrated Kremlin hopes for a lightning victory. (AP Photo/Andrew Marienko) (Andrew Marienko/AP) Kaluzhny said for him leaving wasn’t an option.
“Everyone who is in Kiev now understands they are part of resisting, big part of resisting,” he said. “We work 24/7 and we will resist until the end.”
Kaluzhny’s church has already received millions of tons of food, giving it out where they see fit.
He’s getting help from the Winter Park-based nonprofit, the Ginsburg Family Foundation. It recently gave $100,000 to the church last week to help them buy food for those in need.
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They’re also helping the European Jewish Congress in assisting refugees.
“It’s overwhelming to really think about the disparity in the community, so the Ginsburg family sat down and discussed what we can do,” said Marc McMurrin with the Ginsburg Family Foundation.
McMurrin said for him, helping is personal. His father was the conductor of the Kyiv Symphony Orchestra for 20 years, and has always tried to help with humanitarian work there.
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McMurrin believes this is just the beginning for them. He’s calling on others in Central Florida to give back when they can, too.
“We’re just one mechanism that’s helping a network with the humanitarian work on the ground,” McMurrin said.
For ways to help, contact the Ginsburg Family Foundation at marc@ginsburgfamilyfoundation.org .
Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelenskyy address to US Congress, part in English (NCD)
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