SEATTLE — Fresh off a trip to Washington, D.C., to push for the now-passed congressional bill to support Ukraine, Carl Larson celebrated in his Mountlake Terrace home.
"I like to think that our efforts played a small part in the enormous victory," Larson said. "The Ukrainian military is just not very well equipped. I saw Ukrainian soldiers in the snow wearing tennis shoes."
In 2022, Larson, a U.S. Army combat veteran, went to Ukraine to join the International Legion of Ukraine. He spent six months fighting against the Russians.
When he got back to western Washington, he co-founded Ukraine Defense Support, a nonprofit that ships non-lethal equipment to Ukraine.
"I'm a guy with a busy social life and a lot of friends and I felt none of that was as important as this moment in history," he said.
To date, the organization has raised more $300,000 for various equipment, in addition to collecting medical supplies and 17 vehicles to be shipped overseas.
"There are easy ways for the average American to get involved," he said. "What we're looking for is volunteers. There are an endless amount of projects that the average American can get involved in to support the soldiers. Either work on advocacy, or provide equipment to the soldiers."
Larson believes it is a "moral imperative" for Americans to help.
"I encourage the non-Ukrainian community to get involved," Larson said. "If this war is going to be won, the international community needs to get involved."
For more information at Ukraine Defense Support, including how to donate time and funds, visit their website here.
The group meets at 7 p.m. every Thursday at European Foods at 13520 Aurora Ave. in Seattle.