Change for Ukraine: KPS Student Council holds fundraiser in partnership with Chertkovsky family

It has been 111 days since Russia's war on Ukraine began.

KPS Student Council recently organized another fundraiser, this time in partnership with local residents Anton and Liubov Chertkovsky. Kindergarten students and student council members participated in a group song to perform for the Chertkovsky family and their KPS peers, "Peace like a River, Love like a Ocean, Joy like a Fountain."

Anton Chertkovsky was born in Odesa, Ukraine and moved to the U.S. in 1995 when he was just 8 years old, fleeing the dangers of antisemitism during the era of the Soviet Union. In recent years, Chertkovsky has settled in Oswego with his wife, Liubov, and their two kids and has been working as a physician’s assistant at an Oswego County urgent care facility. Liubov was born in Vladivostok, Russia and is an admin for a local Facebook group aimed at gathering monetary donations and medical supplies. Through a coordinated effort with those at the Polish-Ukrainian border, the Chertkovsky family has been gathering donations to send to the front lines of the war in Ukraine.

"My husband and I are devastated by the situation in Ukraine; what we see is unbelievable and heartbreaking, and we cannot stand by without doing everything we can," Liubov said. "We have contacts on the ground in Ukraine who are acutely aware of what is needed on the front lines. We have been gathering and sending aid to the Polish- Ukrainian border, where volunteers pick it up and distribute it where it is needed most.

The family has been attempting to help keep up with current needs by sourcing medications and equipment for free or at the lowest possible rate, sending supplies over weekly or biweekly with the help of volunteers who fly from New York City to Poland and deliver the donations to the Ukrainian border.

As the situation of the war fluctuates, every week comes with different challenges and obstacles, and demands for certain medical supplies are ever-changing.Anton Chertkovsky has been cooperating with the primary care offices, ambulance and fire departments, as well as endocrinology, pulmonology and cardiology centers.

The KPS Student Council is advised by Kelly Moxley. The 2021-2022 Student Council includes president Finley Shanly, vice president Madilyn Myhill, secretary Natalie Breitbeck, treasurer Layla Wilson, Olivia Dorsey, Kelly Jaime, Kaitlyn Thomson, Sanuth Rupasinghe, Owen Dorsey, Kai Fronk, Mackenzie Gates, Isaac Kearns, Desiree Lagoe, Odis Allison, Alexander Daigle, Garrison Earl, Noah Frost, Ricki Gilbert, Abigal Mulcahey, Maddie Mulcahey and Sophia Waite. Previously this year, the group donated to St. Baldrick's in an effort to fight childhood cancers, as well as the family-centered Upstate Golisano Children's Hospital in Syracuse.

To learn more about how you can get involved in the local effort coordinated by the Chertkovsky family, please visit the "Help Ukraine, Oswego NY" page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/385518963435684. Residents can also contact Mayor Billy Barlow's office to obtain information on how to donate to the city of Oswego's supply drive.