Medical Supplies for Ukraine
Donation protected
Please help support grassroots, community-based efforts to provide critical humanitarian aid and medical supplies to the people of Ukraine.
——
My husband met Davit Antadze over 20 years ago while serving as a PeaceCorps volunteer in Georgia. They stayed in touch through life’s adventures, ups, and downs. In 2009, we had the opportunity to host Davit for a few days in at our home in Washington DC. He was in town for a scholarship-supported study abroad program run through the US Department of State. During his visit, he introduced us to Maryna Shevchenko, an intelligent, kind, and funny young Ukrainian woman who he had met through the scholarship program. Maryna showed us how to make Ukrainian Borscht (I’ve never been able to replicate it quite as well), and Davit made khachapuri to go with it. I remember the joy and promise of that weekend like it was yesterday. Fast forward a few years. Davit and Maryna marry.
They have two children, born in Ukraine. They decide to live in Georgia, but maintain close ties with Ukraine, where all of Maryna’s family and many of her friends still live.
Davit and Maryna never imagined the horror of the last several weeks. They never imagined that the grandfather of their children, an oncologist, would be fighting in a war. Or that they would go to bed at night hoping and praying that their family would still be alive the next morning. And yet, this is what is happening.
Rather than stand by in fear, Davit and Maryna have been building a grassroots, community-based effort to provide medical supplies and other humanitarian aid directly to hospitals and other Ukrainian institutions. They aré working directly with Maryna’s family members (all physicians supporting the war effort) as well as their other contacts in the country to understand exactly what the needs are. Then, they set about meeting them.
Davit and Maryna have fundraised, purchased supplies, secured donations, and hired truck drivers to transport supplies from Georgia into Ukraine. They have sourced supplies from Georgia, neighboring countries, and farther afield in Europe. Their efforts have been herculean, and are directly supporting those most in need in Ukraine.
And now, they need our help. Not all of the needed supplies can be sourced in Europe. The need is great and growing daily.
With the funds raised in this campaign, I will work with Davit and Maryna to determine the best, most efficient way to meet the areas of greatest need. This will likely be through purchasing needed medical supplies and sending them directly to hospitals in Ukraine via Meest, or another freight forwarder. However, there also may be situations where it is more efficient to transfer funds directly to Davit, Maryna, or one of their contacts in Ukraine. Through it all, we will provide updates here, so that you will know where your donations are going.
Thank you for your support in this time of great need. We appreciate and honor your trust and desire to help the Ukrainian people.
Finally, here is a letter from Maryna, which describes her experience and efforts so far:
My Name is Maryna Shevchenko-Antadze. I am Ukrainian citizen from the city Zhytomyr, that is situated in the north-west of Ukraine. I currently live in Tbilisi Georgia with my husband Davit Antadze, who I met in the USA while studying in the Tennessee Technological University (2008-2009). We both got scholarship (I from Ukraine and then my husband to be from Georgia) from United States Department of State study abroad program UGRAD. We now live in Tbilisi Georgia with two of our kids (5 and 3 years old) who are Ukrainian citizens, and both were born in Zhytomyr.
All my family, my father Yurii Shevchenko, my mother Tetiana Shevchenko, my sister Yana Lutsenko, her husband Serhii Lutsenko and their two children: Nestor Lutsenko (now 12 years old) and Sofiia Lutsenko (5 years old) are now in Zhytomyr trying to stay alive. Besides, all the rest of my relatives including grandma (87 years old) and grandpa (89 years old), uncles, aunts and their families and of course all of my childhood friends and their families are also in Ukraine right now hoping for the piece for their families and Homeland. It would not be exaggeration to state that my heart is left in Ukraine as well.
My father is a Surgeon-oncologist working full time in Zhytomyr Regional Oncology Center. My Mother is the Head of Child Psycho-Neurological Department at Zhytomyr Regional Psychiatric Hospital #1. My sister is working as ultrasound doctorin the Zhytomyr Regional Perinatal Center.
The morning of 24th of February 2022 was the worst in our lives. Early in the morning at 5 AM (EET) I missed several calls from my father, that were followed by the text message: “Russia hasstarted a war in Ukraine, they are bombing us. We love you very much. Take care”. It was horrible hard-breaking moment on my life that has spitted it into BEFORE and AFTER. I could never ever imagen in my life that this could happen to my peacefulcountry Ukraine in the XXI century… That Russia could have taken such brutal vile actions again our country, our people, ournation just for our strong desire to build independent future full of dignity and self-identification for our children. But it happened. Russian army has started a war from all the sides. And it changedour lives forever.
My father will turn 61 in April and he could have left Ukraine from the very beginning, but he did not do that, neither did my mother and sister with her family. We realize that this is a turning point in the history of Ukraine, history of Europe, as well the history of the modern world, and it is duty of each Ukrainian, each person in every civilized country– to unite in order to be strong to protect out home from evil. Each of us should do his best on his own place to win in this cruel aggression against Ukrainian people, against values of civilized world.
From that dark day my father is no longer curing people with cancer but is now side by side with Ukrainian people who defend our lives, and he is trying to save lives of every wounded soldier orcivilian, risking his own life. Despite the war, my mom and sister are working because people need doctors now more then ever. My mother’s hospital has become a shelter for more than 500 patients from psychiatry care hospitals from Kyiv region where the war is more severe, and it was no longer safe to stay there. Zhytomyr Regional Perinatal Center, where I was born and my kids were born, where my sister is working, is functioning despite of the war. On March 2nd the bomb has landed next to the Perinatal Centerdestroying several civilian houses, killing family of 5, including a 12 years old girl (video form that night here: https://www.facebook.com/100003404770612/videos/941732249811778/). The Perinatal Center was affected as well, as the bomb blast has blown up all the windows, but thanks God no pregnant mothers and newborns were killed that night.
Unfortunately, we are facing the reality in which Russian army isfighting against humanity, killing each day more and more people, more kids around the country, destroying everything we have and love, everything we were building by generations for the bright future of our country. By the moment I am addressing You with this letter on 18th of March 2022 there are already 108 kids killed and 120 injured by brutal Russian occupants. 15 of the angels were from my native Zhytomyr Region. During 22 days of the war, Russian troops carried out almost 60 missile and bomb strikes on the territory of Zhytomyr region. More than 200 buildings were destroyed and damaged as a result of the shelling. 43 citizens died, 20 of them were civilians. Only in Zhytomyr Region (by 16th of March 2022):
Destroyed:
• more than 65 residential buildings;
• 3 dormitories;
• 2 educational institutions.
Damaged:
• more than 70 houses;
• 41 educational institutions;
• 9 hospitals, including the regional perinatal center;
• 30 administrative and industrial buildings.
Together with my husband, Ukrainians and other not indifferent people, we are working in Georgia collecting humanitarian aid not only for my city Zhytomyr but generally for Ukraine, people who are risking their lives to protect the world against the brutal violence, people and animals, who are trapped by the war. Since the beginning of the war, we have sent more then 20 trucks of humanitarian aid that we collected locally. But as the war does not stop and the damage is very severe, we need more funds to help people in Ukraine.
Funds that will be raised, will be directed for the needs of people in Zhytomyr Region in these cruel times. Each day we receive new and new urgent needs for medical, humanitarian and other needs that can save lives in Ukraine, and it is my duty as Ukrainian to do all I can and even more to make a difference for those who need it the most, for my people, who are protecting the whole world.
——
My husband met Davit Antadze over 20 years ago while serving as a PeaceCorps volunteer in Georgia. They stayed in touch through life’s adventures, ups, and downs. In 2009, we had the opportunity to host Davit for a few days in at our home in Washington DC. He was in town for a scholarship-supported study abroad program run through the US Department of State. During his visit, he introduced us to Maryna Shevchenko, an intelligent, kind, and funny young Ukrainian woman who he had met through the scholarship program. Maryna showed us how to make Ukrainian Borscht (I’ve never been able to replicate it quite as well), and Davit made khachapuri to go with it. I remember the joy and promise of that weekend like it was yesterday. Fast forward a few years. Davit and Maryna marry.
They have two children, born in Ukraine. They decide to live in Georgia, but maintain close ties with Ukraine, where all of Maryna’s family and many of her friends still live.
Davit and Maryna never imagined the horror of the last several weeks. They never imagined that the grandfather of their children, an oncologist, would be fighting in a war. Or that they would go to bed at night hoping and praying that their family would still be alive the next morning. And yet, this is what is happening.
Rather than stand by in fear, Davit and Maryna have been building a grassroots, community-based effort to provide medical supplies and other humanitarian aid directly to hospitals and other Ukrainian institutions. They aré working directly with Maryna’s family members (all physicians supporting the war effort) as well as their other contacts in the country to understand exactly what the needs are. Then, they set about meeting them.
Davit and Maryna have fundraised, purchased supplies, secured donations, and hired truck drivers to transport supplies from Georgia into Ukraine. They have sourced supplies from Georgia, neighboring countries, and farther afield in Europe. Their efforts have been herculean, and are directly supporting those most in need in Ukraine.
And now, they need our help. Not all of the needed supplies can be sourced in Europe. The need is great and growing daily.
With the funds raised in this campaign, I will work with Davit and Maryna to determine the best, most efficient way to meet the areas of greatest need. This will likely be through purchasing needed medical supplies and sending them directly to hospitals in Ukraine via Meest, or another freight forwarder. However, there also may be situations where it is more efficient to transfer funds directly to Davit, Maryna, or one of their contacts in Ukraine. Through it all, we will provide updates here, so that you will know where your donations are going.
Thank you for your support in this time of great need. We appreciate and honor your trust and desire to help the Ukrainian people.
Finally, here is a letter from Maryna, which describes her experience and efforts so far:
My Name is Maryna Shevchenko-Antadze. I am Ukrainian citizen from the city Zhytomyr, that is situated in the north-west of Ukraine. I currently live in Tbilisi Georgia with my husband Davit Antadze, who I met in the USA while studying in the Tennessee Technological University (2008-2009). We both got scholarship (I from Ukraine and then my husband to be from Georgia) from United States Department of State study abroad program UGRAD. We now live in Tbilisi Georgia with two of our kids (5 and 3 years old) who are Ukrainian citizens, and both were born in Zhytomyr.
All my family, my father Yurii Shevchenko, my mother Tetiana Shevchenko, my sister Yana Lutsenko, her husband Serhii Lutsenko and their two children: Nestor Lutsenko (now 12 years old) and Sofiia Lutsenko (5 years old) are now in Zhytomyr trying to stay alive. Besides, all the rest of my relatives including grandma (87 years old) and grandpa (89 years old), uncles, aunts and their families and of course all of my childhood friends and their families are also in Ukraine right now hoping for the piece for their families and Homeland. It would not be exaggeration to state that my heart is left in Ukraine as well.
My father is a Surgeon-oncologist working full time in Zhytomyr Regional Oncology Center. My Mother is the Head of Child Psycho-Neurological Department at Zhytomyr Regional Psychiatric Hospital #1. My sister is working as ultrasound doctorin the Zhytomyr Regional Perinatal Center.
The morning of 24th of February 2022 was the worst in our lives. Early in the morning at 5 AM (EET) I missed several calls from my father, that were followed by the text message: “Russia hasstarted a war in Ukraine, they are bombing us. We love you very much. Take care”. It was horrible hard-breaking moment on my life that has spitted it into BEFORE and AFTER. I could never ever imagen in my life that this could happen to my peacefulcountry Ukraine in the XXI century… That Russia could have taken such brutal vile actions again our country, our people, ournation just for our strong desire to build independent future full of dignity and self-identification for our children. But it happened. Russian army has started a war from all the sides. And it changedour lives forever.
My father will turn 61 in April and he could have left Ukraine from the very beginning, but he did not do that, neither did my mother and sister with her family. We realize that this is a turning point in the history of Ukraine, history of Europe, as well the history of the modern world, and it is duty of each Ukrainian, each person in every civilized country– to unite in order to be strong to protect out home from evil. Each of us should do his best on his own place to win in this cruel aggression against Ukrainian people, against values of civilized world.
From that dark day my father is no longer curing people with cancer but is now side by side with Ukrainian people who defend our lives, and he is trying to save lives of every wounded soldier orcivilian, risking his own life. Despite the war, my mom and sister are working because people need doctors now more then ever. My mother’s hospital has become a shelter for more than 500 patients from psychiatry care hospitals from Kyiv region where the war is more severe, and it was no longer safe to stay there. Zhytomyr Regional Perinatal Center, where I was born and my kids were born, where my sister is working, is functioning despite of the war. On March 2nd the bomb has landed next to the Perinatal Centerdestroying several civilian houses, killing family of 5, including a 12 years old girl (video form that night here: https://www.facebook.com/100003404770612/videos/941732249811778/). The Perinatal Center was affected as well, as the bomb blast has blown up all the windows, but thanks God no pregnant mothers and newborns were killed that night.
Unfortunately, we are facing the reality in which Russian army isfighting against humanity, killing each day more and more people, more kids around the country, destroying everything we have and love, everything we were building by generations for the bright future of our country. By the moment I am addressing You with this letter on 18th of March 2022 there are already 108 kids killed and 120 injured by brutal Russian occupants. 15 of the angels were from my native Zhytomyr Region. During 22 days of the war, Russian troops carried out almost 60 missile and bomb strikes on the territory of Zhytomyr region. More than 200 buildings were destroyed and damaged as a result of the shelling. 43 citizens died, 20 of them were civilians. Only in Zhytomyr Region (by 16th of March 2022):
Destroyed:
• more than 65 residential buildings;
• 3 dormitories;
• 2 educational institutions.
Damaged:
• more than 70 houses;
• 41 educational institutions;
• 9 hospitals, including the regional perinatal center;
• 30 administrative and industrial buildings.
Together with my husband, Ukrainians and other not indifferent people, we are working in Georgia collecting humanitarian aid not only for my city Zhytomyr but generally for Ukraine, people who are risking their lives to protect the world against the brutal violence, people and animals, who are trapped by the war. Since the beginning of the war, we have sent more then 20 trucks of humanitarian aid that we collected locally. But as the war does not stop and the damage is very severe, we need more funds to help people in Ukraine.
Funds that will be raised, will be directed for the needs of people in Zhytomyr Region in these cruel times. Each day we receive new and new urgent needs for medical, humanitarian and other needs that can save lives in Ukraine, and it is my duty as Ukrainian to do all I can and even more to make a difference for those who need it the most, for my people, who are protecting the whole world.
Organizer
Sarah Diamond O'Donnell
Organizer
Takoma Park, MD
