A piece of Ukraine in Lower Manhattan: Arka has been selling vyshyvankas and cute little things in New York for 70 years

Store has been working in Lower Manhattan for over 70 years helping Ukrainians to keep in touch with their native culture. When the war started, New Yorkers bought up all the flags here. Yellow and blue banners have become a symbol of solidarity, reports "Voice of America".

We enter Arka and find ourselves in a miniature Ukrainian world. A boutique of Ukrainian sundries in Lower Manhattan has been operating for 7 decades. The last 3 decades have been Mykola Drobenko's business. He was born in Ukraine, grew up in Poland and the USA.

“I have always felt like a Ukrainian. Both in Poland and in America, we spoke Ukrainian at home. In Poland, I remember, in the 5th grade we learned Russian. That was how it was supposed to be. In America, I began to go to a Ukrainian school, learned to read and write correctly. And I took my children to a Ukrainian school: 5 days to a regular school, and on Saturdays to a Ukrainian school. They know the language, culture, history. Go to dance club

After February 24, hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers felt like Ukrainians. The phone in Arka did not stop. People were looking for Ukrainian flags. The yellow and blue panels ran out in the shop in a couple of days.

“Now many have felt a stronger connection with their roots, that they are Ukrainians. More than before the war. But there are also many Americans flying Ukrainian flags asking how to help. We help them transfer money to help Ukraine,” says the boutique owner.

Sometimes the money is brought directly to the store. He gives everything to the church, from where boxes of humanitarian aid are sent to Ukraine every week. Mykola and his wife Maria also collect donations. Then they transfer money to Poland, where friends buy provisions and equipment for Ukrainian soldiers.

On the subject: How you can help Ukrainians while in New York

And before the war, trade was completely different. Mykola and his wife went to Ukrainian fairs every summer. In their store, every vyshyvanka and every towel is made by Ukrainian craftswomen.

“I remember there was a big, big market. Once a week it opens early in the morning. The first time I got there, I could not believe my eyes - five hundred or even a thousand craftswomen were standing there. And each has its own embroidery. Who has 2-3 shirts, who has only one item. We always tried to buy from the poorest grandmothers. First of all, they helped those who stood with one shirt in their hands. “

Mykola and Maria keep in touch with some craftswomen. They called them recently when they realized that all vyshyvankas were about to be sold out. Someone replied: "We're fine, maybe we'll sew something." But many were unable to reach them. They worry about their fate, they want to visit them themselves. Mykola is going to Ukraine, as usual, in the summer - whether the war ends or not.

“Useless, unnecessary war. And all because of the fact that one person wants to stay in power at any cost. People don't really care here. After all, there have never been such large protests in Russia against the war, against the government. And what a pity that all these people, children, fathers are at war. It's so embarrassing what's going on. Both sides lose - people die. You can't get these lives back, it's a tragedy. Hope this ends soon. They have to come to some sort of agreement. There is simply no other way out,” says Mykola.