I'm writing to you today on behalf of my friend Brad, who needs safe and reliable housing during the Maine winter as he recovers from the year and a half he spent in a Ukrainian war zone. We are looking to raise $15,000 to purchase a heated trailer for Brad from Boothbay VETS, a great local organization with whom Brad is already in contact.

In 2022, Brad had been working at Maine Medical Center where he had been called into emergency service by the governor during the COVID epidemic. When Russia invaded Ukraine, he felt compelled to help. Brad traveled across the world to Bakhmut and started driving as a noncombatant volunteer. For a year and a half, Brad drove people to safety in one of the most active war zones in Ukraine. He stayed until his health and funds ran out and came home to Maine to recover.

That recovery has been a long road, and it's still not over. Brad poured most of his own financial resources into his ministry in Ukraine, and he hasn't had a permanent residence since he returned to the US. He has stayed with a series of very generous hosts, and he's incredibly grateful for their hospitality; but attempts at finding long-term independent housing keep falling through.

Today, Brad is working toward completing his undergraduate degree and becoming a chaplain in the National Guard, a vocation for which he is uniquely equipped by his experiences in Ukraine. The seemingly endless work of securing shelter drains time and energy from this major commitment, and it's been taking a significant toll on him. Brad needs stability. He needs a home of his own — a place where he can find solitude and rest — and he needs our help getting there.

Brad has been talking to Ed Harmon of Boothbay VETS about purchasing one of the heated trailers they build for local veterans. Boothbay VETS typically offers these trailers on loan: once a suitable host has been found, they lock the wheels and maintain some level of oversight over their property. Purchasing the trailer would allow Brad freedom of movement while providing a permanent solution to his housing dilemma. $15,000 would cover the cost of that trailer's construction and provide a home for Brad. With your help, we can help break the exhausting cycle of housing instability and help Brad move forward in his recovery.

If you'd like to learn more about Brad and his service, you can read this article from Christianity Today or watch this interview with NBC:

If you'd like to learn more about Boothbay VETS and their work, you can watch this video: