Like so many others around the world, Newtown residents are continuing to do everything they can to help residents of Ukraine, whose country has been under attack by Russian forces since late February.

Two local collections have attracted growing attention in recent weeks. One is being coordinated by a family with direct ties to the besieged country, and the other has been undertaken by a Ukrainian-American who lives in town.

What began as a family effort for Diana and Steve Paproski to get items into the hands of relatives in Ukraine has turned into a countywide effort that continues to put emergency items into the hands of those in Ukraine who need them.

The family, who owns Castle Hill Farm, began collecting “medical supplies and other necessities,” Diana said last week. “No used clothing. The situation over there is volatile, and they just need these emergency supplies,” she said.

Medical kits, trauma kits, and Pedialyte filled more than half of the first shipping container they used to amass donations.

“The big thing now is blood clotting packets,” she said. “They’re small, and you can order them online, and it’s like gold over there.”

A minivan parked at the base of the farm’s driveway at 40 Sugar Lane is available for anyone who would like to drop off donations. The vehicle is checked and emptied regularly.

In just a few weeks, the family has received enough donations to fill an enclosed utility trailer. Between connections to a church in New Britain and social networks that extend well into the Ukraine community in Bridgeport, donations have been received from across Fairfield County and beyond.

Diana and Steve delivered the trailer — pulled by their full-size GMC Sierra, which was also packed with donations — to a location in Norwalk, where its contents were combined with similar donations heading toward Ukraine.

The Paproskis will continue to accept donations for a few more weeks. The next shipment is planned for April 23.

Requested items are as follows: sleeping bags and blankets (new ones, which are wrapped tightly and take up less room in shipping containers), children’s over-the-counter medicine, children’s underwear, children’s socks, adult socks, Pedialyte, Ensure, bandages and dressings, and first aid supplies.

Ribbons For Ukraine

Ann Marie Cordisco is also seeking public support for her project. Her Ribbons For Ukraine effort is raising funds for an orphanage that has been helping Ukraine children for more than a quarter century.

“Since the war began in February, I started crafting blue and yellow ribbons with a sunflower to sell, with 100% of the proceeds going to the Orphans Aid Society,” Cordisco said this week via email. Blue and yellow are the colors of the Ukraine flag, and the sunflower is the country’s national flower.

OAS, Cordisco also explained, was established in 1992 in Fresh Meadows, Queens.

“OAS has over 25 years of helping orphans and half-orphans throughout 24 provinces in Ukraine,” she noted.

Her ribbons are on display at Bagel Delight, 30 Church Hill Road; Farmhouse Restaurant, 43 South Main Street; and Queen Street Gifts, 3 Queen Street, and are available for a $5 donation.

Residents, organizations, groups, et al, who are doing public collections or running fundraisers (with all proceeds being donated) are invited to contact Shannon Hicks to have their work featured in an upcoming issue of The Newtown Bee.

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