Point Pleasant Beach mayor heading to Poland in hopes of helping Ukrainian refugees
POINT PLEASANT BEACH, N.J. -- The mayor of a New Jersey town is headed to Poland with hopes of helping Ukrainian refugees.
Point Pleasant Beach Mayor Paul Kanitra told CBS2's Nick Caloway he was inspired by the many summer workers who take jobs at the Jersey Shore.
He's bringing with him items like blankets, toiletries and diapers, stuffing it all into five large suitcases.
"We've tried to get as many blankets as possible," he said.
Like many of us, Kanitra has seen the horrors of war unfold on television and watched as a wave of refugees flee Ukraine in search of peace.
"And how they had been completely displaced, with no place to go, no assets, no resources or anything like that. And I booked a ticket at 2:30 in the morning and here we are," he said.
Kanitra is flying to Poland, where he rented a 10-passenger van to drive to the Ukrainian border village of Medyka to hand out supplies and give rides to bus and train stations.
The mayor comes from Polish and Slovakian heritage, but he was also inspired by the countless students, many from eastern Europe, who travel to the Jersey Shore to work every year.
"And in the summer, a lot of young Ukrainian adults come here to enjoy the summer and help operate our rides and our attractions and really make Point Pleasant Beach that special place that everybody in the Tri-State Area knows and loves," Kanitra said.
Watch: Prayer service held at St. George Ukrainian Church in East Village --
In New York, Gov. Kathy Hochul spoke at St. George Ukrainian Catholic Church in the East Village on Wednesday night, where Ukrainian Americans pray for those fighting and dying to protect their country.
She remarked on the strength of the Ukrainian people amid such painful times.
"Yes, we've seen Ukrainian people under attack by Putin and the army, but we have seen them stand tall against tyranny in a way that inspires the rest of the world," she said.
"My message is: we are with you. We are with you. We will stand up. And if you continue fighting, we will continue fighting," Long Island City resident Lesia Harhaj Kudryk said.
Back in the church, the choir sang the classic "Hallelujah," all wearing sunflowers, the national flower of Ukraine and now a global symbol of solidarity, unity and hope.