CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WVIR) – A Ukrainian woman living in Central Virginia is turning her personal connection to her homeland into life-saving action, spending her days packing critical medical supplies for hospitals on the front lines.
Kateryna Smith, who was born and raised in Ukraine, volunteers at MERCI UVA, where she collects surplus medical equipment and ships it to Ukrainian hospitals every few weeks. Even while living in America, she says the responsibility to help never leaves her.
“So it’s constant, constant demand of my help. And I feel like I need to be here. And I don’t have right to stop whatever difficulties I have in my personal life. My personal health. I just keep pushing,” Smith said.
At MERCI UVA, Smith packs bandages, staples and surgical equipment meant for operating rooms under constant strain. She ships 50 to 60 pounds of surgical instruments every two to three weeks, including laparoscopic instruments that allow surgeons to perform procedures with smaller incisions.
“Currently, since 2023, I’ve been going to University of Virginia. They have a little department, MERCI UVA, when they would give surplus medical instruments,” Smith said. “Mostly it’s surgical instruments, blood-stopping bandages, threads, needles, everything that needed to perform surgeries and save lives.”
Smith said civilian hospitals in Ukraine suffer the most because resources go toward the war effort. She receives requests from surgeons in her hometown, Kyiv, Odesa and even children’s hospitals.
“All civilian medicine needs help. If even it’s like little bandage or complicated surgical instruments. Because everything, it costs money,” Smith said.
Doctors overseas send photos back as proof the supplies arrived and are saving lives. To Smith and other volunteers, those images prove the work matters.
“It’s just a little effort for me. But back then, they give it everything. They give it sometimes their life for Ukraine,” Smith said.
Smith’s mother, Nataliia Sternytska, helps package the supplies and watches her daughter push forward.
“And I would like to thank you to all American people, American government, neighbors, people from Charlottesville, MERCI UVA,” Sternytska said.
Smith said she plans to continue the work as long as she has energy, even after the war ends.
“I’m planning to do it as long as I can, as long as I have energy. And even when the war will stop tomorrow, I will still be doing it,” Smith said.
“I’m blessed to be here in UVA and among this amazing community,” she said. “I’m glad that I have this possibility that God placed me here in amazing Virginia near the amazing Charlottesville area.”
For more details on MERCI, you can click here.
For more details on Ukraine, click here.
Do you have a story idea? Send us your news tip here.
Copyright 2026 WVIR. All rights reserved.
link