UPDATE (2:45 pm): The March 20 Bottles For Ukraine event at Aquila's Nest Vineyards has sold out. This report was also updated to correct the spelling of the Connecticut based nonprofit Maidan United.

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As death and injury tolls continue to rise following the Russian invasion of Ukraine last month, residents, businesses, and organizations in Newtown, across Fairfield County and beyond, have rallied to do what they can to support those most affected by the violence and displacement.

Those fleeing the occupation desperately need emergency aid according to numerous humanitarian organizations.

Following is a list created and verified by Fairfield County’s Community Foundation of US organizations that have set up funds and are working to support the Ukrainian people:

*CARE (my.care.org or 800-422-7385);

*Doctors Without Borders (doctorswithoutborders.org or 888-392-0392);

*Global Giving Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund (globalgiving.org or 877-605-2314);

*International Medical Corps (give.internationalmedicalcorps.org or 424-252-6008);

*International Rescue Committee (help.rescue.org or 855-9RESCUE);

*Razom for Ukraine (razomforukraine.org/donate or info@razomforukraine.org);

*Save the Children (support.savethechildren.org or 203-221-4000);

*UNICEF (unicefusa.org or 800-367-5437);

*UN Refugee Agency (give.unrefugees.org or 855-808-6427); and

*Voices of Children (voices.org.ua or info@voices.org.ua).

Collection Extended

Initially planned as a three-day event, a Help For Ukraine Collection at The Burrito Shack has been extended to Sunday, March 20.

The public is invited to visit the 314 South Main Street eatery with donations of nonperishable food, clothing including footwear (men, women, and children), thermal undergarments, hygiene items, blankets, bedding, disposable tableware, first aid items and kits, tents, sleeping bags, standalone lamps, candles, containers for liquids (for water, fuel, lubricants, 10-20 liters).

Burrito Shack owner John Wilson told The Newtown Bee these items will be delivered next week to Saint Mary’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Bridgeport.

Financial donations, also accepted to March 20, will be donated to Connecticut-based Maidan United, a qualified Hartford area nonprofit. Those funds, according to Wilson, are earmarked to Maiden United’s fund to provide medical supplies and support to eastern Ukraine hospitals and medical facilities.

The Burrito Shack is on the southwestern corner of the South Main-Meadowbrook Road intersection; its parking lot is reached by way of Meadowbrook Road. Hours are Tuesday through Friday, 11:30 am-7 pm; and Saturday and Sunday, noon-7:30 pm.

Interfaith Prayer Vigil

Members of Newtown Interfaith Council will host a prayer event on Sunday, March 20, at 1 pm.

All are invited to an informal, simple gathering for prayer at Trinity Episcopal Church, 36 Main Street.

For additional information, the church office can be reached at 203-426-9070 or trinity@trinitynewtownct.org.

Maple Craft Donating

Newtown-based Maple Craft Foods (maplecraftfoods.com) is donating $1 per bottle sold to relief efforts.

Chief Maple Officer Dave Ackert this week told The Newtown Bee, “We’ll be giving to a rotating list of aid organizations focused on helping families and children, starting with World Central Kitchen and UNICEF.”

Vineyard Events

Aquila’s Nest Vineyards has partnered with local small businesses to host two different fundraisers to support the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Ukraine.

The Sandy Hook winery will be donating a portion of wine sales and ticket fees to the Red Cross for Ukrainian Aid fund, which has been repairing infrastructure, supporting families, and providing food, water, and medicine to those who need it in Ukraine.

On Sunday, March 20, at noon, the vineyard will host artist Anne Kearns Fers/Annie’s Art Party for a painted wine bottle workshop, Sunflowers for Ukraine. Tickets are $40 per person and include all materials (wine bottle, paints and brushes, cork and lights) and instruction. Kearns will donate 50% of each ticket sale to the Red Cross fund.

Additionally, Candle Delights by Brigita & Mel, who created Candles for Peace; cookie designer Jen Hinkle/Hinkle’s Twinkles Cookies; and Kearns, author of Poems From The Heart, will further support Ukraine by donating 50% of their proceeds to the Ukrainian Red Cross fund during the special event.

Then, on Wednesday, March 23, the vineyard will host Dance & Wine Night in partnership with Art In Motion owner Kristen Prall. A professional ballroom and Latin dancer, Prall will open the event with 30-45 minutes of dance instruction, followed by time to dance to East Coast swing hits. All ages and skill levels are welcome.

Cost is $13 per person, and 100% of the dance fee proceeds will be donated to the Ukrainian Red Cross.

Reservations are required for either event, and can be done through aquilasnestvineyards.com/book-online.

At each fundraising event, Aquila’s Nest Vineyards will be offering a selection of wines for purchase, with 50% of the proceeds donated to the Ukrainian Red Cross fund.

Call 203-518-4352 for additional information.

Saving Ukrainian Animals

Robin A.F. Olson, president and founder of Kitten Associates, told The Newtown Bee last week that her organization has been in direct contact with two women in Ukraine.

“They’re both in very dangerous areas of this war-ravaged country, and I am not being dramatic by saying this is life or death for them and their animals. Food is running out. People are abandoning their pets,” Olson said via e-mail. “These precious and brave women are staying behind to help however they can.”

Olson has launched fundraisers for two women: Dora, a volunteer with Shelter Shans in Kherson, Ukraine; and Oksana, who is reportedly caring for over 100 cats and many dogs.

Kitten Associates is accepting donations through PayPal (visit paypal.com/paypalme/kittenassociates) and Venmo (@KittenAssociates).

Olson is hoping to raise at least $1,000 for each rescuer.

“Please bear with me,” she posted on Facebook last week. “I have two translators, flaky internet, and war going on, so if I make a mistake and these people are not legit, understand that my team and I are doing the best we can in ever-changing circumstances with information that is the most accurate we can provide.”

If the fundraising goal is passed, Olson vows to send funds to the two women “as long as we can stay in contact, and that the banks remain open in Ukraine. I will update all of you as the fundraiser progresses and as I get info.”

Prayers Over Counted Embroidery

The March 10 meeting of Friends of Counted Embroidery (FCE)-Laurel chapter was focused on Ukrainian needlework projects. Members were encouraged to work on a simple cross stitch pattern featuring symbols with importance to Ukrainian heritage.

Nancy Prutting, whose husband is of Ukrainian descent, was the first to find and share the pattern with others in the local group. She said last week she liked that the creator of the pattern — Antony S. Galbraith, an ordained Zen Buddhist monk and contemplative artist and writer who lives in Oneida, N.Y. — “clearly explained all the symbols and colors.”

The pattern features a cross, a star, a heart, a white dove, wavy lines, a key, and squares, done in yellow, blue, red, black, white, and green. FCE member Marge Gingolaski describes it as “only five threads, really easy.”

FCE-Laurel Chapter President Claudia Kelly said Galbraith encourages people to pray for strength and support for the people of Ukraine with each stitch they make.

“He also asks,” she said, “that if any money is made from this, to please donate those funds to help the people of Ukraine.”

The pattern is available without charge.

Eleven women were working last Thursday morning, each at various stages of the cross-stitch projects. “It’s good, this work. It keeps us grounded, if nothing else,” Linda Albanese said.

The light-filled room on the southeast corner of the historic building held quiet, easy conversations between those seated around three tables.

Kelly smiled, recalling that it was her Ukrainian grandmother who taught her how to stitch.

“She came from Kiev in 1916,” Kelly said. “She was the one who taught me, not my mother. We did a lot of kitchen towels.”

For those who would like a copy of the Ukraine stitch-a-long project used by FCE-Laurel chapter, contact Claudia Kelly at ckk627@att.net. The pattern is also easily found online.

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Managing Editor Shannon Hicks can be reached at shannon@thebee.com.