Keller-Brown Insurance counts many admirable businesses amongst our client base. In response to the war in Ukraine, one client showed that our community goes above and beyond to support people in need.
Keller-Brown Insurance counts many admirable businesses amongst our client base. In response to the war in Ukraine, one client showed that our community goes above and beyond to support people in need. Southern York Smile Care, based in Shrewsbury, PA, is a family dentist and orthodontics practice providing exceptional care to their patients. They recently announced they'd be donating one month's revenue to Ukraine relief efforts. We spoke to Dr. Steven Haywood along with his wife and patient care coordinator Ulyana Bezkorovayna, a Ukrainian immigrant, to learn more about this important work.
Watch the full video interview on YouTube.
Keller-Brown: First, Ulyana, how are you doing and what are you doing to maintain some type of normalcy when your heart and mind must be with your family?
Ulyana: Thank you for asking. We are feeling a sense of purpose in our everyday lives. Anything we do, we feel that it's going to bring some relief and help to those in need. Just staying in touch with my family, friends, and everyone I know in Ukraine helped me maintain my spirit and stay positive.
Keller Brown: Dr. Haywood, how has it been watching your wife go through something so closely connected to her?
Dr. Haywood: We decided it would be important to pretty much take our lives and devote them almost completely to Ukraine relief. That was a family decision we agreed upon. With the people we know and the advantages we have in Ukraine, Poland, and Romania, we may be able to supply people with resources and relief much quicker and more reliably than other places. So we just feel a sense of purpose now, rather than having to watch and just cry with heartbreak.
Keller-Brown: Taking a step back, when did you immigrate to the United States and how much of your family is in Ukraine?
Ulyana: I came to the United States in 2008, and I have my mom, dad and brother there. I have spoken with them every day since the war started. I usually called them every week before everything happened. It's unfortunate that I wasn't able to see them for all this time.
That of course has been a burden on my heart, and it makes me feel really sad. However, we're always hopeful about the moment of reuniting and giving each other a hug.
Our reunion was supposed to happen this April. However, with everything happening there, I don't think that's going to be possible. But we are close in spirit, and I think that's what is most important. The love we share and the unity we feel as a nation and as a family is extremely important. It can't be replaced with anything else.
Keller-Brown: It must feel good that you can still contribute.
Ulyana: Absolutely, and I think it gives them hope to see us doing everything we can to support them. I think that makes them feel that they are not alone, and it makes them feel that we will win. The victory is coming.
That's something that I admire about my people because we are not scared. We are on our land, and we will fight because we're not going to give our freedom away. This is something that's been fought for generations. Now, is the moment that we've got to fight for the next generations and for our children to live in peace-not just in Ukraine, but also globally.
Keller-Brown: Describe what Southern York Smile Care is doing for Ukraine.
Dr. Haywood: We have two ways to give. The first way to give is through our church organization based in Texas at evergrace.org/give. The second way is to give resources at our office.
In addition, we decided to donate our entire revenue for a month. Anybody that came in for an appointment with us, all that money would go toward Ukraine. Plus, if people wanted to give, we would make sure they got to the right place. Some people are leaving us checks and such for donations.
Keller-Brown: What kind of response have you been getting?
Ulyana: We've received many phone calls from people that care and want to extend their support and share their feelings about the situation. It's been pretty amazing that everyone feels pain and shares that pain because it makes us stronger to go through this together.
Many patients have stopped by to make a donation. We even received many phone calls from people that we don't know. However, they also have relatives in Ukraine, and they want to see how they can get involved and contribute because they said that it's impossible to just sit and watch.
Keller-Brown: What can Southern York Smile Care customers and other community members do to give back?
Dr. Haywood: Americans are truly wonderful people. There are many Americans in our country that love freedom, that love liberty, that hate evil and are willing to support peace in this world.
What can York County residents do? Share information. Get it out there. Direct people to ways that they can give and ways that they can help.
We are receiving any medical supplies that we can. We have another plane load of stuff going out next week. Donate what you have and check out evergrace.org for their list of things to give. And if it's money, that's fine.
We can assure you that the money is going right into the hands of people. There are no overhead costs. This is a church that's completely volunteer.
If you feel as though you don't want to work with us, then buy an Airbnb in Poland for somebody. Usually it's women and children in need because the men are staying in Ukraine. There are resources to do that. People are sponsoring families in Ukraine, and that can also be done through our church, or it can be done through other organizations. There's so much you can do.
Finally, raise the level of awareness in our community. This is a global problem, and we are going to be solving something bigger than just the freedom and democracy for Ukraine. This is the security of our Western world and our values. We feel strongly that it's much, much bigger than what meets the eye.
Keller-Brown: Where specifically can people bring donations?
Dr. Haywood: Right to our office at 4 South Main Street, Shrewsbury. Or, right to your office at Keller-Brown Insurance Services, and we'll make sure it gets to the right place.
We are right across the street from your office at 9 South Main Street, Shrewsbury.
Keller-Brown: You mentioned that for the month of March, people can book dental care and 100% of the proceeds go to Ukraine. I have a dentist appointment with you on April 4th. What happens in April?
Dr. Haywood: It runs through April 7th. We went to the march on the White House, and then we had our grand revelation of what we needed to do. Then, we instituted that as soon as we decided we could get everything done. The announcement hit the internet, and it started on the 7th.
And we still have appointments available for people at southyorksmiles.com
Keller-Brown: Is there anything else you want to share about your background or Southern York Smile Care's initiatives that we didn't talk about?
Ulyana: I also would like to say that I am a diplomat. I have my degree as a diplomat. I'm a translator. If there is anyone that needs any help in any kind of way that has family or friends in Ukraine, I'll be happy to help in any way I can.
Also, I'm an artist. All of my artworks that I'm currently finished or working on, I'm also going to be posting online for sale. All of the proceeds will go towards the Ukrainian relief fund.
I'm here for you, and together we are stronger.
Southern York Smile Care is collecting donations for Ukraine relief efforts, and they're donating revenue from patient appointments through April 7th. Keller-Brown Insurance is incredibly proud to consider them a part of our family.
You can support Southern York Smile Care's Ukraine relief efforts by visiting southyorksmiles.com to book an appointment, or connect with them on Facebook to follow their journey. If you're not in a position to give, simply share this story with someone else to continue spreading awareness about this important cause.