GRAND FORKS — An event to bring the community together in support of Ukraine is planned for noon Tuesday, March 1, at Calvary Lutheran Church, 1405 S. Ninth St.
The event is not a prayer service, said Becky Ronkowski, who is organizing it. "It is a gathering of messages of hope ... (and) a gathering of support for our Ukrainian brothers and sisters.”
Marta Datsik, 16, an exchange student from Ukraine, has been invited to speak.
Others who are planning to speak are Grand Forks Mayor Brandon Bochenski, Grand Forks School Superintendent Terry Brenner, Pastor Kirk Meseck of Calvary Lutheran, and Reggie Tarr, president of the United African Community, a local organization, and former refugee resettlement coordinator with the North Dakota Department of Human Services.
Music will be provided by the Kelly Elementary School chorus, under the direction of Kathy Fiedler and pianist Julie Pederson. Soloist Ryan King will sing.
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Pastor Aaron Bye, of Calvary Lutheran, will give closing remarks.
No offering will be collected.
Ukraine has been under siege by Russian armed forces since they invaded the eastern European nation last week.
“I was feeling very helpless about the Ukraine situation (recently). So this idea came to be,” Ronkowski said in an email to the Herald. “I made a few phone calls, connected with caring people, and we have an event!”
