A church in Naples is collecting donations to help those stuck in Ukraine escape.

Celebration Beach Church is on a mission to help local Ukrainian families get their loved ones out of the war zone.

“Any time we see evil, the only way we can combat that evil is to do good,” said Pastor Gene Scott.

Scott said his congregation wanted to think out of the box and to offer a different kind of help so they reached out to the St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Mission Parish.

“We said ‘why don’t we just localize the focus and try to help local Ukrainian families here in SWFL,'” Scott said.

The goal is to raise $25,000. Every penny will go to the Ukrainian Mission.

They will then deliver the money to local Ukrainian families with the goal of trying to help family and friends escape the fighting.

“They are using those financial resources to be able to provide opportunities,” Scott said. “Many of these are under the radar. It’s very heroine it just breaks your heart when they talk about the process that they are having to follow to try to get families members and friends out of Ukraine.”

The process isn’t easy but Scott hopes the money will help.

“We also call upon everyone in Southwest Florida to pray,” Scott said. “We believe very strongly in the power of prayer in combating evil.”

If you would like to help, you can reach out to Celebration Beach Church or Pastor Scott at 239-777-4749.

The United Ukrainian Volunteers of Naples also can’t watch what is happening in Europe without helping. They are filling boxes and bags with medical supplies, diapers and other essentials. They will be sorted and shipped to Poland and distributed to people in need.

Yana Hegy, with the United Ukrainian Volunteers of Naples, said her entire family is in Ukraine, her mom is a nurse that is aiding soldiers, having to hide when the air raid sirens ring out.

“Every one of us felt hopeless because we are here. We are safe, but it’s basically the least we can do the smallest thing we can here to support them. It hurts you know, it hurts for all of us. Every morning we wake up, we going at night to bed, we see this. We cry a lot. It hurts, it hurts a lot,” said Hegy.

Hegy said she is thankful for all the people who have joined forces to help the people of Ukraine.

If you would like to help out, you can buy and donate items that the United Ukrainian Volunteers of Naples are looking for. they have created an Amazon wishlist that you can find by clicking here. You can also buy the items listed below and drop them off at 7765 Preserve Ln, STE 5 in Naples, Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m., or at Fairway Woods ll at 16310 Fairway Woods DR. #1602 in F ort Myers.

List of things needed for the people of Ukraine:

High priority * Military Combat Tactical IFAK for First Aid Response Bleeding Control * Celox * Blood transfusion system * Syringes 5.0; 20.0. * System for transfusion of solutions * Burn Aid – water gel burn dressing 4×16 * Burn Aid – water gel burn dressing 4×4 * Tourniqet «СAT» (Mechanical means for a stop of bleeding like “CAT”) * The emergency (Israeli Battle Dressing) Compression Bandages Secondary * Non-sterile bandage * Bandage Strips, 1”x3” sterile * Big Cinch Abdominal Bandage * Cervical Collar * CPR Mask * Multi Trauma Dressings, 12”x30” * Stainless Steel Hemostats * Triple Antibiotic Ointment (full size) * Adhesive bandages (Band-Aids) in several sizes * Adhesive tape * Coban roll, standard 2” x 5 yards * Cravat / triangular bandage, 45” x 45” x 63” * Gauze pads, sterile 4” x 4” (6x) * Pressure dressing * Antibacterial ointment-Neosporin * Aluminum splint, 36” * Impregnated gauze * Hydrocolloids, alginates, hydrogels pastes * Elastic fixation bandage * rice cereal (baby food) * baby formula (dry form only) * energy bars * any clothing with tags

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