Manor College last week marked the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine by donating Palianytsia – freshly baked bread – to local Ukrainian refugees.
Manor President Jonathan Peri and U.S. Rep Madeleine Dean were among those baking the bread, which is made with flour, baking soda, salt and kefir (a milk drink).
As the bread baked, Peri and Dean held a news conference, with state Rep. Ben Sanchez appearing on video from Harrisburg.
They decried Russia’s unprovoked invasion, kidnapping of children and raping of women, while arguing for an independent and sovereign Ukraine.
Dean labeled Russia’s actions “a year of inhumanity.” She has supported U.S. aid to Ukraine, and said she would vote for more. She pointed out that more than 50 nations are in support of Ukraine, and she hopes to see an end to the war within six months. Then, the rebuilding would begin.
Manor has shown its support for Ukraine with prayer, donations to relief efforts and awarding an honorary doctorate of humane letters to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
That degree was accepted by Iryna Mazur, Honorary Consulate of Ukraine to Philadelphia.
Mazur attended last week’s event and said Ukrainians have adopted the Revolutionary War cry of, “Give me liberty or give me death.”
It’s difficult to determine how many people have been killed in the war in the last year, but the total is at least in the tens of thousands.
Among the millions who have fled Ukraine, an estimated 15,000 have come to Pennsylvania. ••
