American volunteers in action in Kyiv. Loading up for a trip to the front lines.
Hardworking "local" Ukrainian volunteers in Zaporizhzhia.
Volunteers in Ternopil making camouflage netting used on large equipment and supplies to avoid Russian airstrikes.
Mike with Sergio Andrukh, possibly the hardest working man in Zaporizhzhia and a tremendous asset to the citizens, refugees, volunteers, medical workers, and soldiers in the Zaporizhzhia region!
Here we are purchasing as much basic, over-the-counter medicine as this Polish pharmacy will sell us. Buying even over-the-counter medicine like ibuprofen and aspirin in Poland and Ukraine is MUCH more difficult and MUCH MUCH more expensive than it is in the U.S. The pharmacies are 1/10th the size of pharmacies in the U.S. and 10X more expensive.
Spanish volunteers Alfredo and Tamara working hard!
While loading one of our shipments in Kyiv, I noticed an open box with colorful items in it. I opened it to find handmade bandages and a note from a church group from Pennsylvania. They made and donated the bandages in 2019 for another conflict! How they ended up in Ukraine is a mystery, but we delivered them to a front-line hospital where I am sure they were put to use immediately.
While loading one of our shipments in Kyiv, I noticed an open box with colorful items in it. I opened it to find handmade bandages and a note from a church group from Pennsylvania. They made and donated the bandages in 2019 for another conflict! How they ended up in Ukraine is a mystery, but we delivered them to a front-line hospital where I am sure they were put to use immediately.
Ballistic (bullet proof) helmets were much needed but in short supply the first few months of the war. We were able to strike a deal with a UK manufacturer for several dozen helmets that we donated to Ukrainian volunteers, paramedics, and soldiers.
Zaporizhzhian artists painted vintage World War II helmets donated from different European countries. They are selling the artwork to raise money to support relief efforts.
Zaporizhzhian artists painted vintage World War II helmets donated from different European countries. They are selling the artwork to raise money to support relief efforts.
Zaporizhzhian artists painted vintage World War II helmets donated from different European countries. They are selling the artwork to raise money to support relief efforts.
Zaporizhzhian artists painted vintage World War II helmets donated from different European countries. They are selling the artwork to raise money to support relief efforts.
Zaporizhzhian artists painted vintage World War II helmets donated from different European countries. They are selling the artwork to raise money to support relief efforts.
Zaporizhzhian artists painted vintage World War II helmets donated from different European countries. They are selling the artwork to raise money to support relief efforts.
Some of the components of the IFAKs (Individual First Aid Kits) we built and donated to front-line paramedics and soldiers.
Components of the IFAKs (Individual First Aid Kits) we built and donated to front-line paramedics and soldiers.
Mobile IFAK work station. Trying to build IFAKs (Individual First Aid Kits) to donate to front-line paramedics and soldiers before 1. the sun went down and 2. curfew. People in every town are under strict curfews. No one is allowed out of their homes at night.
Saying goodbye to refugees transported from Kharkiv to Krakow.
Videos
Helping Wherever Possible
The Polish Scouts (similar to the U.S. Boy & Girl Scouts) were a MAJOR help to refugees entering Krakow, Poland from Ukraine the first few months of the war. I was excited and humbled to be able to contribute to their efforts in both donations and labor. Here is one of their assistance points at the main Krakow train station. For months, a steady stream of women and child refugees arrived here at every hour of the day and night, carrying only what they could hold in their hands. They got off the trains and simply followed the crowd to assistance points like this one. The line of refugees needing food, water, toiletries, etc. never entirely disappeared until mid-summer. Scouts and volunteers worked tirelessly 24 hours a day for months. I took very few photos and videos of areas like this, out of respect for the refugees’ privacy and struggle. This video shows many volunteers working hard to help the refugees however we can.