(Please contact us with details of any support/fundraisers downtown that you are aware of.)
It is a simple question but a difficult one. How do you help when something so awful that it seems beyond imagining is happening before your eyes on your computer, television and smart phone? Perhaps the best answer is- you do what you can. Though these efforts may not be the tipping point in the catastrophe that is unfolding in Ukraine, they show the heart, the support and the love of countries of the world and many in downtown Shreveport. Here are some of the shows of support that we are sending to Ukraine, with love.
Bakowski Bridge of Lights photo by Chris Lyon.
Within hours after the shelling started, the beautiful Bakowski Bridge of Lights was glowing in the colors of the Ukrainian flag. Even though some other colors had been planned, the bridge defaults back to blue and yellow.
Artists Anthony Bennadetto, Michael Miller and Julian Tizian.
Big Sun Studios‘ owner Lewis Kalmbach provided the materials for three local painters to create a striking mural at 427 Crockett Street. Artists Michael Miller, Julian Tizian and Anthony Bennadetto painted two fields of sunflowers, Ukraine’s national flower, facing the Ukrainian flag.
The mural has already become the backdrop for a variety of photo shoots. At High Gravity Glassworks, 1200 Marshall Street, owner and glass maker Michelle Pennington talked with a friend from Ukraine about ways her business could help. Michelle’s post- “A very close friend reached out who is originally from Ukraine. The Lviv district needs monetary support to get tactical gear for the civilians. Through this contact we have a direct line to get the funds to the volunteers. We are setting a goal to raise $1000 dollars. All profits from our special Ukraine heart paperweights and plant watering flowers will go directly to help with the much needed supplies in Ukraine 
. Also through the month of March 20% of every create your own class will be donated as well. We will keep everyone updated on our progress. Thank you in advance for helping us give to this humanitarian effort.”
High Gravity’s Michelle Pennington with #Ukraine paperweight.
The paperweights with the Ukrainian flag-
#Ukraine paperweight
The beautiful plant watering flowers in the colors of the Ukrainian flag,
#Ukraine plant-watering flowers.
and the 20% donations from the glass blowing build-your-own sessions will last through March, with a goal of $1000 collected. Pure donations will also be gladly accepted, and forwarded to those who need the money most.
Here is a list of top-rated charities helping in Ukraine.
