Western New Yorker is Headed to Poland to Help Ukrainian Refugees

March 10, 2022

Written By

Mary Friona Celani

Sometimes in life you have to follow your heart. No matter where it takes you. Even if that means hopping on an airplane and heading to the other side of the world.

Lydia Dominick is doing just that. The Western New Yorker is headed to Poland – to help those in desperate need. “I’m Polish, I’ve been incredibly impacted by the Slavic people,” Lydia said, “They taught me about food and faith. They were some of the safest people for me in my life and when their country got attacked, I took it personally.”

So, she wants to help. Like, really dig deep, and help. Even if that means flying 4,320 miles to see the need firsthand. Even if that means going away for a week without her husband and daughter. Even if that means leaving her business. Even if that means – well, whatever it means.

Lydia, who owns Buffalo Balloon Company says helping the Ukrainian men, women and children who were forced to flee their homes has become a labor of love deep from within. “I couldn’t sit by and watch, I didn’t know where to start, I just started. It looks like every relationship I’ve ever had in my life has facilitated a larger reach and bigger voice because most of those relationships are with other doers.”

We are, it seems, an entire region of doers. The response has been amazing, “I can’t tell you how many people walked in here crying, happy to give whatever they have, even if it’s not much.”

 

     

Buffalo Balloon Company has become a makeshift warehouse for supplies – everything from diapers to medical supplies, tactical equipment and more. And soon, it will be helping those in need. Lydia is heading to Poland on Friday. She’s flying into Warsaw and working her way to the Ukrainian border. She’ll be meeting up with friends to get the supplies into the right hands.

Lydia has already shipped pallets and is bringing ten checked bags on her flight – which will make a difference.

You can help, too.

They need items like medical supplies – gauze, burn care supplies, medical tape, cold medication in pill form, children’s cold medication in chewable or dissolvable.

Venmo @lydia-dominick or you can mail checks to the storefront made out to her. The address is 956 Maple Rd Williamsville NY 14221. Someone will be there from 10-7 everyday this week.

We will have more from Lydia over the next week as she sends photos and videos to us.

 

 

 

 

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About Me

 

 

Welcome to Totally Buffalo! A local lifestyle website.

My name is Mary Friona-Celani and I am the creator of this site! I’m a wife, a mom, a grandma, a Buffalo booster, an entrepreneur and a small business owner. I’m so glad you stopped by.  After 20 years in the buffalo media, I went out on my own to tell stories about the people, places, events and all-around fabulousness of this wonderful place we call home. Buffalo is different and so is this site. We are here to share stories, encourage kindness, and help make this a better place to live.

We’ll help those in need when we can through our charity arm, Totally Buffalo Cares.

We help local small businesses, artisans and vendors though our events and our Totally Buffalo Stores.

We’ll do all of this with a little help from friends in our community.

 

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