Alona Matchenko, a law student at The University of Toledo, is leading a demonstration on campus Thursday, March 3, to stand with Ukraine.

The Toledo Helps Ukraine rally starts at 5:30 p.m. in the Thompson Student Union Auditorium. Attendees, who are encouraged to make signs, will then march to the Law Center.

“Many people I love are facing war and death outside their windows,” Matchenko said. “They cannot buy food or water because store shelves are empty. It’s unlikely families have supplies that can last many days or weeks.”

Matchenko was a school teacher in Kyiv, Ukraine, before she moved to the U.S. about five years ago. She lives in Toledo with her husband and daughter and owns a business. However, her mother, stepfather and two young siblings remain in Ukraine.

After Russia invaded Ukraine last week, she started a Facebook group called Toledo Helps Ukraine to organize demonstrations, raise money and gather supplies for Ukrainian citizens. She has connected with several other Ukrainian families living in Toledo to lead the support effort.

“I can’t just sit and watch the war unfold in my beloved home country,” Matchenko said. “I’m receiving text messages from my family and people I grew up with and people I worked with saying that they are scared and need to be in a bomb shelter. We have no idea what is going to happen, and we need to do something to help them. We have an opportunity here in the United States to help those who are suffering and fighting for their land and their freedom in Ukraine. Please come to the rally and stand with Ukraine.”

The group’s objectives include organizing demonstrations to raise awareness; raising funds and supplies for Ukrainian citizens; lobbying the government for strong economic sanctions or an even stronger response; relaxing and amending invitation requirements to welcome refugees; and creating resolutions and petitions.