Leechburg student creates website 'How to Support Ukraine' with roster of charities

A Leechburg Area High School honors student with Ukrainian heritage has created a website to showcase charities benefiting Ukrainians and encourage people to contribute.

Jasa Oliver, a junior from Gilpin, grew up hearing stories about her great-grandfather Dimetro Buriak’s journey from Ukraine to America.

When the invasion by Russian forces into Ukraine turned from threat to reality, Oliver noticed celebrities using social media to promote charities for people living in Ukraine.

Oliver decided to do her part. On Feb. 24, the day of the first bombings in Ukraine, she created a simple website called “How to Support Ukraine.” The address is support-ukraine.carrd.co.

“I decided to compile charities in one place for people. I did it all by myself. My goal was to have these charities easily accessible for people,” Oliver said.

Additionally, Oliver said she wants her website to spread awareness about the horrific conditions for people living in Ukraine.

“It would be ignorant to hate on Russia or Russian people as a whole, for if you’ve been looking at the news or paying attention to this at all, you’ll see Russian citizens standing alongside Ukraine,” Oliver said.

The website catalogs more than 30 charities, listed in separate categories, with links provided to make the donation process simpler. She wrote some descriptions of the organizations based on reporting by the Kyiv Independent, an English-language publication based in Ukraine.

The categories include: helping the war effort, helping children, the elderly, women, blood donation, animals, environment, homeless, preserving Ukrainian culture and heritage, investigative journalism and covid-related charities.

Oliver’s great-grandfather, Dimetro Buriak, was 24 when he arrived in America in the late 1800s. He went on to work as a crane operator at Pittsburgh Plate Glass Co. in Ford City.

Pauline Oliver, 87, of Manor Township is his daughter and Jasa’s grandmother.

“I think it’s great that Jasa made the website. She’s a fantastic, smart girl,” Pauline Oliver said. Noting how her family embraced their heritage, she recalled that “my father always wrote to relatives in Ukraine and would send them packages.”

As for her assessment of the invasion: “I’m really sick about it. I can’t believe the United States or his own people haven’t shot Putin.”

Leechburg Area High School Honors World Cultures teacher Damian Davies said his students are engaging in daily discussions about Ukraine and Russia.

“Jasa’s work exemplifies our goal of becoming world citizens: students who want to learn and recognize our connection to humanity and take steps in making the world a better place,” Davies said.

Davies said Oliver will speak on the Ukrainian invasion and her website at an upcoming meeting of ACE (Achieving Care Everywhere), an elective junior class organization.

Oliver’s website is making the rounds on social media platforms.

“I didn’t expect my friends or anyone to share the website around, but I’m glad I was wrong,” Oliver said. “There’s enough hate going around, we don’t need anymore. Peace for Ukraine and freedom for Russia.”

Oliver said she has a message for all Ukrainians: “I’m sorry this is even happening in the 21st century, but many people all around the world have your back. A lot of people realized the scale of your heroism and how much you’re standing your ground. I hope more people step in and do as much as they can to help. I hope all of this suffering ends soon and can be over. God bless the people of Ukraine.”