Earlier this spring, Amy Sible, manager of Skagit Valley Food Co-op’s Mercantile gift shop (Mount Vernon, Wash.), engaged in a collaborative effort with friends, family, co-workers and the co-op to raise funds for people in Ukraine. Together, they donated more than $10,000 worth of supplies to Ukrainians in need.

Sible, whose grandfather was born in the village of Chaslivsti, which is now part of Ukraine, said that watching news of the war deeply affected her.

“I felt the need to help, but I felt helpless that I personally couldn’t do a lot to make a big difference,” Sible said.

Then she came across an article about a local Ukrainian-owned restaurant whose owner had organized a weekly donation drive to aid Ukraine. Inspired, Sible reached out to the many contacts she had made over the course of her 13-year career at Skagit Valley. She began asking vendors if they would be interested in donating supplies, posted a flyer in the co-op for co-workers to see and contacted friends and family for help. 

Soon, donations were flooding in — everything from socks and can openers to candles and reading glasses to rain ponchos and cutlery. Family, friends and Skagit Valley staff donated survival kids, first aid supplies, tents, sleeping bags, personal hygiene products, baby food and more. One of the co-op’s vendors, Socksmith, even donated 5,000 pairs of socks, which Sible assisted them in shipping to directly to Ukraine.

“The great thing was, no amount was too little, and it was important to me to relay that message,” Sible said. She continues to gather donations on a smaller scale, but notes that a little bit can add up.

“Standing up for what is important to you, and giving when you can, makes all the difference — and can make a bigger impact than you think,” said Sible.

Read the full story of Sible’s efforts to raise support for Ukrainians in need here.