Stories

How a Spokane, Washington, branch manager is helping to send supplies and financial aid to Ukraine.

When U.S. Bank Branch Manager Dmitriy Grishko first spoke to his cousin, Sergey, he felt helpless being so far away from his home country of Ukraine. Sergey’s family has been taking shelter in his cellar south of Kyiv since the war began in late February, keeping warm with jackets and a space heater. Sergey’s wife, Lesya (Leslie), teaches their children lessons from school while both she and Sergey work to keep the kids focused on things other than the turmoil above them. Many Ukrainian families are in similar situations – some have fled their homes with no more than the clothes they were wearing.

“It was breaking my heart to see what was happening,” Grishko said. “Sergey’s story is one of many and I felt called to action – to find a way that I could help.”

Within days talking to his cousin, Grishko connected with a friend from his church in Spokane, Wash., and they began to organize an effort to send care packages to Ukraine. Clothes, shaving kits, bars of soap, sleeping bags and first-aid kits are just some of the items they collect to send overseas.  

Grishko and his friend also partnered with the local schools to provide pictures, letters, and activities to keep families busy.

Their efforts took off, and the community responded with enthusiasm. To date, they’ve sent 225 care packages and more than $31,000 in financial aid to Ukraine. Most recently, they were able to provide medical supplies to a hospital and funding to help rescue stranded children from an orphanage. Much of the monetary donations have provided immediate assistance with food, shelter, and the cost of fuel and transportation as many are fleeing, leaving everything behind.

Ryan Eskelson, U.S. Bank district manager, describes Grishko as someone who spreads positivity regardless of the circumstances. “He doesn’t focus on the obstacles,” he said. “He sees what can be accomplished and inspires others to do the same.”

Other U.S. Bank employees in North America and Europe have responded similarly with acts of kindness and generosity, taking in refugees in places as far away as the United Kingdom and Ireland. In Poland, which has been at the epicenter of the humanitarian crisis, dozens of employees at Elavon, a wholly-owned subsidiary of U.S. Bank, have opened their homes to refugees, organized community fundraisers and have picked people up at the border to drive them to safer locations.

U.S. Bank last month announced it will provide a $100,000 donation to the Red Cross, and has activated ATMs across our network for Red Cross donations supporting Ukraine humanitarian relief. U.S. Bank will also provide 2:1 matching gifts for U.S.-based employee contributions to organizations supporting Ukraine humanitarian relief efforts.

Grishko and his wife, Viktoriya, also originally from Ukraine, have been working long hours to make sure the packages get mailed. For Grishko, this may mean staying up late to answer emails or shifting his work hours to coordinate deliveries, but he says it’s all worth it. “It’s humbling to see the outpouring of love for the Ukrainian people,” he said. “And my U.S. Bank team has been behind me all the way.”