Ivanka Soloviova spent nearly every day last week at St. Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral, a place where she finds comfort since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began. But it’s also where she comes to volunteer, sorting and packing donations – from medical supplies to winter clothing – until late at night.

“I’ve been coming here from day one,” said Soloviova, a parishioner who left Ukraine four years ago. “It’s like every day, till midnight.”

Like other local organizations, St. Andrew is trying to send much-needed supplies to Ukraine, such as menstrual products, allergy medication for children, and even mobility aids like crutches.

In the past weeks, the church has received hundreds of donations nearly every day – prompting a pressing need for volunteers. Among those filling the void are Jacob Hartenstein, who recently spent an evening sorting through piles of  medical supplies and non-perishable food items.

“It pains me greatly to know or to see what’s happening,” said Hartenstein, who drove in from Sykesville, MD to lend a hand. “I do not want to sit idly by. So here I am, giving up some time. It’s the least I could do.”

For parishioners like Mariia Ross, volunteering at St. Andrew is one way for her to know that she’s helping her family in Ukraine. She’s been coming to the church with her infant son in tow every morning, helping out until the early evenings.

“I worry every day,” said Ross, who was born in Ukraine and immigrated to the U.S. six years ago. “Even if you are so far away, you still can help somehow. So that’s really, really helping me to stay more calm and knowing I’m doing something.”

Valeria Fitzgerald, who is Russian, says she also felt the urge to pitch in any way she could, as it is the right thing to do. She is from Pennsylvania, but was visiting a friend near the Silver Spring Church when she heard of their need for volunteers to sort through donations and prepare packages for shipping.

“They are wonderful people,” she said, “That’s why I feel so bad that my own people want to have that war and [Ukrainians are] just fighting for their freedom.

With donations arriving from around the country, the church has begun color coordinating items to stay organized. Blue for food, red for medicine, green for military supplies like boots, yellow for clothing and other items. For now, the church is prioritizing medical supplies like trauma dressings and blood clotting powder – which parishioner and organizer Olena Poole says have become crucial.

“It’s essential to have this help the first couple of seconds, the minute it happens,” said Poole, who’s family is still living in Ukraine. “Sometimes it’s a matter between life and death.”

St. Andrew has also been hosting regular vigils for parishioners and visitors to pray for those in Ukraine. During one evening, Reverend Volodymyr Steliac expressed his gratitude to the volunteers who have given their time.

“We have sent since day one over a thousand large packed boxes of medicine and things needed for survival,” said Steliac. “We channel our sadness into something positive, sending those things home. So our focus right now is we pray to the Good Lord that this will end soon, and that we will try to help them as much as we can.”

Shipment of the donations has been slightly delayed due to the high influx of items and logistical challenges that accompanies getting them near or into the war zone. However, Soloviova says the boxes will soon be sent to a facility in New Jersey, then onto Poland before their final destination of Lviv, where they will be distributed to those in need.