When war brought hardship to families in Ukraine, the ripple effect reached right here in East Brunswick. Two high school seniors, Anna Berkuta and Veronica Slavinsky, saw their classmates arriving from overseas and decided they couldn’t just sit back. Together, they founded the Peace Pulse Initiative — a student-led effort to welcome, support, and uplift Ukrainian families in our community.
From Personal Roots to a Community Mission
Both Anna and Veronica have deep personal ties to Ukraine. Anna still gets phone calls at four in the morning from family hiding in bomb shelters, while Veronica remembers feeling powerless as the war unfolded from afar. Their shared heritage inspired them to act. What started as a simple Instagram project sharing stories quickly grew into something larger.
Building a Network of Care
Realizing that stories alone weren’t enough, the pair pivoted to action. They connected with Hope for Ukraine, organized a clothing drive, and drove boxes of supplies to northern New Jersey. From there, they expanded into tutoring and hands-on help. At the library, they worked one-on-one with a fourth grader struggling to adjust, even helping her family navigate summer camp registration and government forms.
Creating Spaces for Teens
Peace Pulse also turned its focus to the emotional well-being of teens. Partnering with organizations, Anna and Veronica hosted biweekly “Teen Talk” meetings filled with crafts, stress management activities, and simple social connections. Their biggest event brought more than 100 people to a park in Woodbridge for games, food, and community bonding.
A Call to the Community
Today, the Peace Pulse Initiative continues to run food drives, organize events, and advocate for fairness in schools. Anna and Veronica’s call to East Brunswick is simple: be more understanding, be more welcoming, and lend a hand where you can. Whether through donations, volunteering, or just kindness, the community can help carry their vision forward.
To donate or if you have any questions, you can message them on Instagram.
