LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Next month will mark one year since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Here in Kentucky, many organizations sent aid and supplies to Europe as the war started. Now, almost a year later, several groups in Louisville are coming together for a benefit concert to help Ukrainian refugees in Kentucky.
Angela Katz is one organizer of the benefit concert. She reminisces about her childhood at her home in Louisville, which is 5,000 thousand miles away from her native place in Kherson, Ukraine.
“My roots are there and so my heart is really breaking for what’s going on in Ukraine right now,” Katz said. “The war is still raging, and since the Russians cannot win on the battlefield, they terrorize the civilian population.”
She’s part of the Louisville Metro’s Office for Globalization’s Ukraine Task Force.
“People [are] staring at a very cold winter without water, heat, electricity, so and the soldiers are still dying. The war is raging,” Katz said.
The Louisville teacher said her mission is simple: raise awareness of the ongoing war in Ukraine.
“It can’t be forgotten because it’s really still going on and Ukraine still needs a lot of support. It can’t win this war alone,” Katz said.
She and a couple of bands in Louisville are arranging a benefit concert.
“War is not anything that we can change. We can’t get in the heads of those leaders that are making bad decisions. But we can help the folks who are out of a home and sent all the way across the world to Kentucky,” said Larry Smith, a drummer for the Brass Pack.
Smith said reaching out to the Kentucky Refugee Ministries created a path to help.
“Seemed like a good opportunity, seemed like the right thing to do. Especially with all the shelling and missiles and things that are going on right now as we speak,” Smith said.
And the bands aren’t the only ones showing support. Angela’s class of students is as well. They helped make ribbons to pin on clothing.
“This is very close to my heart,” Katz said. She teaches Spanish at Francis Parker School in Louisville.
Since the beginning of the war, her colleagues have shown support, and now she said it’s even more crucial.
“It’s an existential war for Ukraine, not only for its survival as an independent nation but also for its survival as a democracy. And given what is going on around the world in general right now, democracy seems under threat,” Katz said.
Organizers said 50% of the proceeds from the benefit concert will go to Kentucky Refugee Ministries. The concert takes place Saturday at Headliners Music Hall.