» The Russian Invasion into Ukraine

On March 17, Wilmington’s sister city Merefa in Ukraine suffered a Russian air attack which destroyed the secondary school and the Culture Center and damaged many homes, killing some 26 people and injuring several more.

Through contacts with Ukrainian journalist Nataliya Gumenyuk and Timothy Snyder, a communication has reached Wilmington residents from the member of the Ukrainian Parliament representing that region asking for our help. In addition to the damage from the attack, they are having difficulty caring for the many refugees who have fled there from Kharkiv.

Below are articles from the Wilmington News Journal regarding the Ukrainian situation and how our sister cities are holding up against the devastating attacks:

February 7, 2022 WNJ Article – Old friends from Wilmington to Ukraine – Randy Riley

March 7, 2022 WNJ Article – Today, we are all Ukrainian – Randy Riley

March 28, 2022 WNJ Article – Hope and peace needed in Ukraine – Randy Riley

March 28, 2022 WNJ Article – Standing for Ukraine locally

March 30, 2022 WNJ Article – Pin our hearts to Ukraine

April 1, 2022 WNJ Article – Christ and Kids for Ukraine

How you can help:

Donate Money

Recently, a small group of Wilmington residents representing the Wilmington Friends (Quaker) meeting, the Wilmington United Methodist Church, and the Wilmington Faith Lutheran Church met to establish a pathway for funds to go directly from Wilmington to our sister city of Merefa.

Utilizing the resources of the Friends Meeting, that is now possible. Checks may be made out to the Wilmington Yearly Meeting (Quakers). On the memo line, write “Merefa.” Mail your contributions to the Wilmington Yearly Meeting Office, Pyle Center, Box 1194, 1870 Quaker Way, Wilmington, OH 45177. Those checks will be processed, and the funds will be forwarded directly to our friends in Merefa.