School raises over $1,400 to aide Ukrainian refugees
NEW PHILADELPHIA (WJER) (March 1, 2022) – Tuscarawas Central Catholic students have been showing their support for a Ukrainian classmate whose relatives and friends and among the millions displaced by the Russian invasion.
Junior-Senior High School Principal Jenn Calvo says the seniors organized a spirit day to show their solidarity for exchange student Anastasia Didenko that ended up raising over $1,400 to help those whose lives have been upended by the conflict.
“And that’s not even counting our elementaries. Both Tuscarawas Central Catholic Elementary and Immaculate Conception School also participated in blue and gold dress-down days on Monday, and we are so, so blessed to be in a community where even other schools are doing things. Conotton Valley is doing a whole week’s worth of sort of dress-up, dress-down activities to benefit Ukraine.”
Calvo says the kids have also started what’s known as a nine-day Novena.
“Which is nine days of saying the same prayer and really holding up all Ukrainians and praying for peace in that region and a peaceful resolution, and the seniors have been leading that novena in the morning.”
Anstasia’s father and younger sister were away from the family’s home in Kiev when the invasion began, and her mother escaped on the last train out of town. Calvo says the school continues to accept donations to support the relief efforts, and they’re asking the community to keep Anastasia and her family in their thoughts and prayers.