A girl’s dream becomes reality: helping Ukrainian children

News about war-torn Ukraine and the fate of many children there moved a local mother and her daughter to help. Karolina Zamecka-Zea and 5-year-old Tessa, of Oyster Bay, led a supply drive at the Glen Cove YMCA’s Martone Children’s Center, where Tessa attends preschool. Thanks to the generosity of area families, they collected 40 boxes of supplies for Ukraine. 

The donations were given to State Assemblyman Charles Lavine on March 25, for inclusion in a Ukrainian supply drive Lavine has organized with the Ukrainian Americans of Long Island.

The idea came about after Tessa saw her mother’s anguish while watching the news. Terrified Ukrainian families were shown fleeing their homes, leaving most of their belongings behind.

“The images are just heartbreaking to see,” said Zamecka-Zea, who is Polish. “You see these people fleeing with only one bag. I told [Tessa] that there are children far away who need help. She asked, ‘Can I help?’ I told her everyone can help.”

Zamecka-Zea asked the YMCA’s child care director, Liberty Ledesma, if she and Tessa could hold a supply drive for Ukraine. Before long, Tessa’s classmates and their parents participaed too. Within two weeks, Zamecka-Zea collected boxes spilling over with clothing, shoes, personal hygiene products, toys, and diapers. 

Tessa was an enthusiastic participant, encouraging her classmates to join in. Her mother said that Tessa eventually understood that many of the supplies would be given to children in Ukraine. 

“Well, she is 5, so I try to explain to her a little bit,” Zamecka-Zea said. “She did ask me if this was for her, because she knows she’s a part of this, and then I told her no, this was for the Ukrainian children.” 

Zamecka-Zea said she knew that Tessa fully understood the drive’s purpose when, after being asked by a classmate if anything was for them, she responded without hesitation that everything was for the children of Ukraine. 

Four-year-old Mathias Miranda inspired his mother, Anna Zevallos-Miranda, to get involved. He wanted to participate in the drive to help Tessa, who is his friend. 

Zevallos-Miranda, of Glen Head, described Tessa as a powerhouse. “We’re so very proud of Tessa for taking this initiative and having been such a great helper,” she said. “Not only collecting the toys and all of that, [but] she’s been really involved in helping to sort and pack.” 

It’s important, Zevallos-Miranda added, to teach children the power of community, collective action and civic engagement. “We do talk to Mathias about giving back,” she said, “and he understands that sometimes we have to share what we have with others.” 

Children in Ukraine have been in danger since the Russian invasion began. According to a March 24 report from the United Nations Children’s Fund, more than half of the country’s 7.5 million children have been displaced. At least 1.8 million have fled with their families to neighboring countries as refugees, and 2.5 million who are still in Ukraine have been uprooted from their homes and relocated. 

Tessa’s grandmother Jolanta Zamecka, vice chair of the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County in Glen Cove, said she’s heard about the crisis from friends and family members in Poland, where many Ukrainian refugees have fled. 

“The older generation in Poland is telling me that this reminds them of World War II,” Zamecka said. “Woman and children fleeing for their lives, leaving their husbands, brothers and older sons behind. All they have is what will fit into one bag or suitcase — your entire life’s work reduced to one suitcase.”

Zevallos-Miranda said she realizes that the collection of donations isn’t large, given the need in Ukraine, but to her, that doesn’t matter. “If we can bring a little joy to them,” she said, “we’ll feel happy to [give them] relief in some way or form.”