Two Ukrainian soldiers who each lost a left arm in combat with Russian invaders told a recent crowd of about 40 Chestnut Hill area residents how grateful they were for U.S. support, and that they are going to return to fight for their country's independence.

Speaking through an interpreter, the soldiers said that virtually everyone in Ukraine who is physically and mentally able is helping the war effort in one way or another, and that almost everyone is suffering from severe shortages of food, housing, medical care and all other necessities of life.

The meeting was held in the Gravers Lane home of Kerry and Rod Henkels to raise funds for Ukraine TrustChain, a nonprofit organization whose small teams go where large international organizations cannot go to provide food, medical and other supplies. The volunteer organization also repairs homes and schools, and evacuates people who need it. The work is extremely dangerous because these volunteers can also be victims of Russian bombs and rockets.

The fundraiser was organized by Glenn Bergman, who was formerly the general manager of the Weavers Way and is now  in a similar position at Philabundance.  “Last December, I read an article in the Inquirer by foreign affairs columnist Trudy Rubin about what a great job three humanitarian nonprofits are doing in Ukraine. I donated to all three but felt I had to do more,” he told the audience members who gathered in his home. 

So Bergman contacted Ilya Knizhnik, a Penn Medicine neuroscientist who was born in Ukraine and co-founded Ukraine TrustChain – who told him he could help by organizing fundraisers.

“In 1938, my own father got on a train to Budapest to escape from the Nazis and eventually was able to make his way to Cuba. If it was not for people who helped him, I might not be here today,” Bergman said. “So I feel we have to do whatever we can to help the Ukrainian people.”

Rubin attended the meeting and spoke passionately to the assembled crowd about the five weeks she spent in Ukraine over the past year. 

“I saw a once-beautiful city on a harbor that no longer exists,” she said. “And it's not just the big cities that are being bombed. I saw the wreckage of small towns and villages. People are sleeping in the subway, and restaurant owners are feeding them. There is basically a civilian army that consists of every able-bodied person. They rescue old people in villages and provide food for them.”

At the same time, Rubin said, she’s been inspired by the resolve – and community spirit – of the Ukrainian people.

“This kind of energy is astonishing to watch. People are fixing each other’s roofs. I went to a school that had big craters in front where Russian bombs had been dropped, and local craftspeople had come in to make repairs,” Rubin said.

Knizhnik said that despite all the misery caused by the war, he is incredibly proud of her people. 

“The Nazis kicked us out once, but they are not going to do it again,” he said. “We have hundreds of volunteers there. One lady has 70 people delivering food. We have helped evacuate over 51,000 people and have been able to help over two million people overall.

“So many people have stepped up,” he continued. “We have a priest who has evacuated as many as 500 people at one time. One city had 34 schools, 27 of which have been damaged or destroyed. We have reopened five of them. We have shipped 35,000 sports bras for women in the military, and we have helped 20,000 small family farmers. And we are all volunteers. You could not pay people to risk their lives this way. If you were paying them, you are probably paying the wrong people.”

The two soldiers who spoke to the audience in Ukrainian were brought to the U.S. to get prosthetic arms. Countless other soldiers and civilians still in Ukraine are in desperate need of prosthetic arms and legs.

For more information, visit ukrainetrustchain.org. Anyone else who wants to host a fundraiser for Ukrainian nonprofits should email gbergman@21gmail.com or call 267-515-1234. Len Lear can be reached at lenlear@chestnuthilllocal.com