GASTONIA, N.C. — As the turmoil in Ukraine forces families to seek refuge in other countries, people in the U.S., including the Carolinas, want to do what they can to help.
That includes Joe Lenihan, the owner of the Loray Mill in Gastonia.
He says it became increasingly more difficult to watch the images on television.
Lenihan reached out to multiple organizations but his undertaking will be on his own.
"The worldwide response to this humanitarian crisis is epic. It's huge. So, they're not taking any bodies," he explained. "But I didn't just want to give money this time. I wanted to go. I wanted to be a part of it."
Lenihan booked a ticket for Sunday, March 20, to Warsaw, Poland and plans to travel to the Ukrainian border.
There, he's planning to distribute 1,000 units of school supplies including crayons, coloring books and playing cards. Lenhian said, "I have been blessed to give out school supplies in my travels with my family in places like Vietnam and Myanmar, Cambodia and Cuba. And I said you know what, look at those kids. How do we, the mental health, how do we change that? These poor kids are uprooted. So let's do something for them."
Lenihan says he'll also have more time than outside of handing out crayons and coloring books.
"So I'll get plugged in to the Jesuit relief organization, hand out food, hand out water, whatever they need. I'll sweep the floor. I'll give out hugs on the street corner. It's about being a part of it."
He added a $15 donation will go a long way to help put supply kits together.
Lenihan started a Go Fund Me page which has raised $12,000 so far.
Contact Jane Monreal at jmonreal@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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