Annual Ukraine Fest in Westmoreland Park a volunteer effort

Published 12:00 am Sunday, September 29, 2024

By DAVID F. ASHTON
For THE BEE

After the first bomb of the war dropped right into her family’s yard in Kyiv, Nataliia Makohon of Portland-area Ukrainian Foundation moved her family to the U.S. for their safety, but she is still working hard to help her people back in Ukraine.

Although not well-promoted this year, the 2024 Ukrainian Day Festival returned to Westmoreland Park on Saturday and Sunday, August 24 and 25.

“While our event is called Ukrainian Day, it is actually a two-day festival! Yesterday, Saturday, was Independence Day in Ukraine, celebrating the 33rd anniversary of our country,” said Ukrainian Foundation’s event organizer, Nataliia Makohon.

“As you likely know, we’re still fighting for our independence now; the situation is really hard, and we need a lot of support and help,” Makohon told THE BEE.

In addition to providing entertainment and space for Ukrainian craft vendors and nonprofit organization supporters – a primary thrust of the Festival was to receive donations of money, medicines, medical supplies – even prosthetics – explained Makohon. “We’re providing traditional Ukraine food for everyone who comes to donate.”

But, the donations received during festival had deep personal significance for her, Makohon remarked. “My own family’s house in Kyiv was one of the first to directly experience the war in Ukraine in February 2022 – one of the first rockets landed in my yard. The next day, the full-scale invasion began.

“I’m glad that I could move to the United States, and save my three kids from the war; but, now, I want to help the people back in my country.”

To learn more about, and if you choose, to support, the Portland-based Ukrainian Foundation, visit their official website – https://www.ukrainian.foundation

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