Fundraiser to help Ukraine J1 Workers in Ocean City

OCEAN CITY, Md. – The Russian invasion on Ukraine continues, however people here in Ocean City are doing their best to help the country.

Many on Delmarva are standing in solidarity with the Ukrainian people. Ocean City is a big destination for many summertime J1 workers. A fundraiser is happening on Thursday at Ropewalk for their families in Ukraine. 47ABC spoke with the Program Director for Ocean City who has kept in contact with some of the J1 workers. That includes Viktor who worked on the shore in 2010.

He says this has been a rough experience and that he tried to get his family to leave Ukraine and go to Poland. However, his family said, they are staying even if it costs them their lives.

“We’ll stay if we’re going to die, we’re going to die together. If we’re going to survive we’re going to survive together,” Conestabile says.

To help out Viktor and other affected families, you can show up at the fundraiser at Ropewalk in Ocean City on Thursday, at 4 PM. At the event, you can come and share your J1 stories from the last 20 years. You can also donate via their website.