According to the Union County Prosecutor's Office, the ongoing conflict in Ukraine has uprooted families, injured citizens, and left thousands of Ukrainian refugees without access to basic necessities.
To date, nearly 1.5 million Ukrainians have fled their homes, many leaving behind necessary supplies.
To support individuals in need, the Union County Board of County Commissioners and the Union County Prosecutor’s Office have partnered to organize a county-wide donation drive for the people of Ukraine.
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Donation boxes are available in the lobby of Union County law enforcement agencies, totaling twenty-four locations in all, say officials.
According to county officials, to bolster the drive, the Union County Prosecutor’s Office and the Union Police Department will be accepting donations at the Union County St. Patrick’s Day Parade, this Saturday, March 26th, starting at 1:00 p.m. at the corner of Caldwell and Morris Avenues in Union.
Officials say members of the public are invited to bring donations of first aid supplies, toiletries, flashlights, blankets, batteries, clothing, shoes, diapers, formula, and more. In addition to collections on the day of the parade, the program will run for the foreseeable future, as long as continued aid is needed.
This donation drive is made possible through a partnership with law enforcement and local Polish and Ukrainian organizations.
“In support of the international effort to aid Ukraine, we encourage Union County residents to help ensure that life-sustaining emergency supplies reach those in desperate need of assistance,” said Union County Commissioner Chair Rebecca Williams
“I am immensely grateful to the Police Chiefs and Directors of Union County for opening their agencies to this initiative,” said Union County Prosecutor William Daniel.
“Police departments are at the heart of every community, positioning them as the perfect location for members of the public to come together in support of the Ukrainian people.”
“As a Polish immigrant, and an active member of the Polish and Ukrainian communities in Union County, I was eager to find a way for the County’s law enforcement community to provide humanitarian aid to the Ukrainian refugees,” said Prosecutor’s Office Detective Dariusz Tokarz, who coordinated the collection event.
According to officials, drop-off boxes remain available in the lobbies of police departments in Berkeley Heights, Clark, Cranford, Fanwood, Garwood, Hillside, Kenilworth, Linden, Mountainside, New Providence, Plainfield, Rahway, Roselle, Roselle Park, Scotch Plains, Springfield, Summit, Union, Westfield, Winfield.
Additional drop-off locations will be available in the lobbies of the Union County Sheriff’s Office, the Union County Police Department, the Kean University Police Department, and the Union County Prosecutor’s Office.