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'You Feel Bad For Being Safe': East End Rallies Around Ukrainian Community

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Natalie Massa, center left, with a group of volunteers who helped collect Ukraine-bound donations that completely filled a van outside her home in Water Mill.

Natalie Massa, center left, with a group of volunteers who helped collect Ukraine-bound donations that completely filled a van outside her home in Water Mill.

A van full of donations, bound for Ukraine, after Natalie Massa organized a volunteer effort from her home in Water Mill.

A van full of donations, bound for Ukraine, after Natalie Massa organized a volunteer effort from her home in Water Mill.

A van full of donations, bound for Ukraine, after Natalie Massa organized a volunteer effort from her home in Water Mill.

A van full of donations, bound for Ukraine, after Natalie Massa organized a volunteer effort from her home in Water Mill.

Natalie Massa and a volunteer load donations, bound for Ukraine, into a van outside her home in Water Mill.

Natalie Massa and a volunteer load donations, bound for Ukraine, into a van outside her home in Water Mill.

Zayden Massa at a rally in support of Ukraine last Thursday in East Hampton.

Zayden Massa at a rally in support of Ukraine last Thursday in East Hampton.

Natalie Massa, right, with her husband, James, and their children, Zayden and Violet, at a rally in support of Ukraine last Thursday in East Hampton.

Natalie Massa, right, with her husband, James, and their children, Zayden and Violet, at a rally in support of Ukraine last Thursday in East Hampton.

As East Hampton Village Mayor Jerry Larsen speaks with Anya Bimson in the background, her daughter, Vira Palamarchuk, whose father is fighting on the front lines in Ukraine, is comforted by a stranger during a rally last Thursday on the Hook Mill Village Green in East Hampton. MICHAEL HELLER

As East Hampton Village Mayor Jerry Larsen speaks with Anya Bimson in the background, her daughter, Vira Palamarchuk, whose father is fighting on the front lines in Ukraine, is comforted by a stranger during a rally last Thursday on the Hook Mill Village Green in East Hampton. MICHAEL HELLER

As East Hampton Village Mayor Jerry Larsen speaks with Anya Bimson in the background, her daughter, Vira Palamarchuk, whose father is fighting on the front lines in Ukraine, is comforted by a complete stranger during a rally last Thursday on the Hook Mill Village Green in East Hampton. MICHAEL HELLER

As East Hampton Village Mayor Jerry Larsen speaks with Anya Bimson in the background, her daughter, Vira Palamarchuk, whose father is fighting on the front lines in Ukraine, is comforted by a complete stranger during a rally last Thursday on the Hook Mill Village Green in East Hampton. MICHAEL HELLER

Vira Palamarchuk, center, whose father is fighting on the front lines in Ukraine, is comforted by her mother, Anya, left, and a close friend, right, who happens to be Russian, during a rally in support of Ukraine last Thursday on the Hook Mill Village Green in East Hampton. MICHAEL HELLER

Vira Palamarchuk, center, whose father is fighting on the front lines in Ukraine, is comforted by her mother, Anya, left, and a close friend, right, who happens to be Russian, during a rally in support of Ukraine last Thursday on the Hook Mill Village Green in East Hampton. MICHAEL HELLER

Vira Palamarchuk, whose father is fighting on the front lines in Ukraine, is comforted by a complete stranger during a rally last Thursday on the Hook Mill Village Green in East Hampton. MICHAEL HELLER

Vira Palamarchuk, whose father is fighting on the front lines in Ukraine, is comforted by a complete stranger during a rally last Thursday on the Hook Mill Village Green in East Hampton. MICHAEL HELLER

Blue and yellow ribbons were tied around all the street lampposts on Main Street in Sag Harbor in support of Ukraine, as seen on Monday. MICHAEL HELLER

Blue and yellow ribbons were tied around all the street lampposts on Main Street in Sag Harbor in support of Ukraine, as seen on Monday. MICHAEL HELLER

Blue and yellow ribbons were tied around all the street lampposts on Main Street in Sag Harbor in support of Ukraine, as seen on Monday. MICHAEL HELLER

Blue and yellow ribbons were tied around all the street lampposts on Main Street in Sag Harbor in support of Ukraine, as seen on Monday. MICHAEL HELLER

Blue and yellow ribbons were tied around all the street lampposts on Main Street in Sag Harbor in support of Ukraine, as seen on Monday. MICHAEL HELLER

Blue and yellow ribbons were tied around all the street lampposts on Main Street in Sag Harbor in support of Ukraine, as seen on Monday. MICHAEL HELLER

Zoe Ostrof, holding a Ukrainian flag that she made herself, looks on with her mom, Anna, and brother, Jayden, during a rally last Thursday in support of Ukraine on the Hook Mill Village Green in East Hampton. MICHAEL HELLER

Zoe Ostrof, holding a Ukrainian flag that she made herself, looks on with her mom, Anna, and brother, Jayden, during a rally last Thursday in support of Ukraine on the Hook Mill Village Green in East Hampton. MICHAEL HELLER

East Hampton Village Mayor Jerry Larsen speaks as Anya Bimson, right, and her daughter, Vira Palamarchuk, whose father is fighting on the front lines in Ukraine, hold up a Ukrainian flag during a rally last Thursday on the Hook Mill Village Green in East Hampton. MICHAEL HELLER

East Hampton Village Mayor Jerry Larsen speaks as Anya Bimson, right, and her daughter, Vira Palamarchuk, whose father is fighting on the front lines in Ukraine, hold up a Ukrainian flag during a rally last Thursday on the Hook Mill Village Green in East Hampton. MICHAEL HELLER

East Hampton Village Mayor Jerry Larsen speaks as Anya Bimson, right, and her daughter, Vira Palamarchuk, whose father is fighting on the front lines in Ukraine, hold up a Ukrainian flag during a rally last Thursday on the Hook Mill Village Green in East Hampton. MICHAEL HELLER

East Hampton Village Mayor Jerry Larsen speaks as Anya Bimson, right, and her daughter, Vira Palamarchuk, whose father is fighting on the front lines in Ukraine, hold up a Ukrainian flag during a rally last Thursday on the Hook Mill Village Green in East Hampton. MICHAEL HELLER

Zoe Ostrof, holding a Ukrainian flag that she made herself, looks on during a rally last Thursday in support of Ukraine on the Hook Mill Village Green in East Hampton. MICHAEL HELLER

Zoe Ostrof, holding a Ukrainian flag that she made herself, looks on during a rally last Thursday in support of Ukraine on the Hook Mill Village Green in East Hampton. MICHAEL HELLER

A rally in support of Ukraine during the current Russian invasion was held last Thursday on the Hook Mill Village Green in East Hampton. MICHAEL HELLER

A rally in support of Ukraine during the current Russian invasion was held last Thursday on the Hook Mill Village Green in East Hampton. MICHAEL HELLER

A rally in support of Ukraine during the current Russian invasion was held last Thursday on the Hook Mill Village Green in East Hampton. MICHAEL HELLER

A rally in support of Ukraine during the current Russian invasion was held last Thursday on the Hook Mill Village Green in East Hampton. MICHAEL HELLER

A rally in support of Ukraine during the current Russian invasion was held last Thursday on the Hook Mill Village Green in East Hampton. MICHAEL HELLER

A rally in support of Ukraine during the current Russian invasion was held last Thursday on the Hook Mill Village Green in East Hampton. MICHAEL HELLER

A rally in support of Ukraine during the current Russian invasion was held last Thursday on the Hook Mill Village Green in East Hampton. MICHAEL HELLER

A rally in support of Ukraine during the current Russian invasion was held last Thursday on the Hook Mill Village Green in East Hampton. MICHAEL HELLER

A rally in support of Ukraine during the current Russian invasion was held last Thursday on the Hook Mill Village Green in East Hampton. MICHAEL HELLER

A rally in support of Ukraine during the current Russian invasion was held last Thursday on the Hook Mill Village Green in East Hampton. MICHAEL HELLER

Vira Palamarchuk, whose father is fighting on the front lines in Ukraine, is comforted by East Hampton Village Mayor Jerry Larsen during a rally last Thursday on the Hook Mill Village Green in East Hampton. MICHAEL HELLER

Vira Palamarchuk, whose father is fighting on the front lines in Ukraine, is comforted by East Hampton Village Mayor Jerry Larsen during a rally last Thursday on the Hook Mill Village Green in East Hampton. MICHAEL HELLER

authorMichelle Trauring on Mar 9, 2022
At 12 years old, Vira Palamarchuk shouldn’t have a care in the world. At 12 years old, she should not be tired, or sad, or worried. She should not be... more

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