Alexandria resident travels to Poland to help Ukrainian refugees

As millions flee fighting in Ukraine, a woman from Alexandria flies to Poland to help.

Polish-born Alexandria resident Mary Leonard is traveling to western Poland this week to help refugees leaving the war-torn country. Leonard will initially be staying with a connection to the US Embassy facilitated by Twitter.

Leonard, running Love in ALX, has reached out to a videographer in Warsaw, Poland, and will document her journey and that of at least two Ukrainian families she is fundraising for. Its ultimate destination is Przemysl, Poland, just 14 kilometers from the Ukrainian border and the first railway station stops west of the Ukrainian border.

Leonard has raised enough money for an Airbnb in Warsaw for a few months to house a family, and is fundraising to house other families.

Those wishing to make a donation can do so via LoveinALX.com. (Because the funds go directly to the families, they are not tax deductible.) Leonard has also bonded with @MeidasTouch and with Sean Penn’s documentary and relief teams.

“It’s not like I can take care of everyone, but I want people to know that the United States is there and helping because I know a lot of people feel like right now , the United States has not done enough,” Leonard said.

Corporate sponsorships are available (contact details are available through Love in ALX). ALX Community and The Old Town Shop have both made significant donations.

Additionally, Leonard was contacted via Twitter by a family near St. Louis whose six-year-old son, William, wanted to help. The family collected letters of support from William’s classmates, coloring books, crayons and comic books for Leonard to bring with her to Poland.

Despite a series of health issues over the past two years, including three surgeries and a stay in intensive care, Leonard said her doctors cleared her to travel. “I couldn’t stay there,” she said.

After returning later this month, Leonard plans to host a video viewing and discussion starting at 6 p.m. on March 25 showing videos produced during his trip and talking about the situation refugees are facing in Poland. The event will take place at Above ALX, part of the ALX Community, 277 S. Washington St.