Pingree Students Organize Ukrainian Relief

Pingree students Mackenzie

Holian ’23 and Nora Pierce ’23 turned their interest in international affairs into action by creating a nonprofit organization to support those impacted by the war in Ukraine.

Both joined Model UN (MUN) in ninth grade and credit the program for opening the door to a greater understanding of our interconnectedness with others. Nora shares, “Model UN lends this understanding that events taking place all the way around the world can have a huge impact on our lives and inspires empathy for people who are very different from us in some ways and similar in others.“

It is no surprise, then, that they were inspired to help upon learning more about the plight of Ukrainian refugees fleeing their homeland under Russian invasion. Mackenzie explains, “We initially wanted to incorporate Model UN into some of our work, but realized that with the ongoing Ukrainian refugee crisis, we needed to take action in support of the millions of displaced persons seeking safety and security sooner rather than later. That is why we ultimately decided to launch Students for Ukrainian Refugees.“

Since its inception in the spring, Students for Ukrainian Refugees has collected more than 500 pounds of hygiene, menstrual care, and first aid products for shipment to refugee welfare organizations working in Ukraine, Poland, and Romania. In addition to their collection drive, the students continued to look for other ways to make an impact, partnering with YMCAs, churches, and public libraries across the North Shore.