MT. MORRIS TOWNSHIP, Mich. - Westwood Heights School District is joining the effort to collect donations for Ukraine, and it's all thanks to one Special Education Social Worker.
Fighting back tears, Dorene Towery, who is a Special Education Social Worker at Hamady High School, says it's been heartbreaking to watch the crisis unfold in Ukraine.
“Very heavy heart, and just very concerned about the people having to leave Ukraine, leave their homes, leave their family, and I couldn't comprehend,” said Dorene Towery.
While Towery has been following news stories surrounding the war, she tells Mid – Michigan NOW’s Remi Murrey it never crossed her mind to help until attending a vigil at St. Vladimir Ukrainian Catholic Church more than a week ago.
“Then it made it real,” said Towery.
Overcome with emotion, Towery knew she had to do more, after hearing first-hand from natives with loved ones fighting for their lives in Ukraine.
“I thought this is something, this church is in our community, and we can help them. I just felt like I needed to do more,” said Towery.
Towery then spoke to Westwood Heights Superintendent about her idea to collect donations to support Ukraine, and he agreed, with teachers and students also volunteering to help.
“This isn't something that I typically would do is take the lead on anything like this but I just felt so strongly that I needed to help them,” said Towery.
This donation drive is open to anyone in the community.
If you're interested, you can drop off items like coats and clothes for men, women and children, or money to any Westwood Heights school up until Thursday.
Towery also suggests you call the school you're going to before arriving.