Medical supplies for Ukraine
Donation protected
JUNE TRIP!
The war in Ukraine has drifted out of the spotlight now that we are past day #100 since Russia invaded unprovoked. Early in the war the world was ready to help, but the support has changed from a wave to a trickle (as described by the head of humanitarian aid for the city of Krakow when we met at a shelter in May). Ukrainians now face this new phase of war, displacement, grief, trauma, and split families. Needs have shifted in Poland (and much of Ukraine) as acute crisis shifts to long-term crisis.
In response, Joy and Acadia will be returning to Poland again in June! They plan to respond to some of the needs we heard from Ukrainian women and children who continue to be displaced in Krakow, Poland. We are regularly in contact with many of the workers and refugees themselves to know what is needed and requested at this stage. There are still specific medical supplies and medicine (INSULIN) needed to go on the convoy into eastern Ukraine. In Krakow the Welcome Center and shelter have been helping women and children deal with psychological and practical needs through women's groups, children's classes, knitting circles, art therapy, language lessons, music therapy, legal help, food, counseling, and transportation help.
Some of these needs can be purchased in Poland (we are expert shopper in Poland!), others (medical supplies) can be purchased for a tiny fraction of the real price at Partners in World Health in Maine and carried by Joy and Acadia on the plane.
Would you like to join the trickle? The needs continue to be great, but we trust that each small act of kindness contributes to the ocean of support and love we in Maine are sending to Ukraine.
"Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean." ~ Ryunosuke Satoro
PAST TRIP NEWS and POSTS:
In April we had the opportunity to travel from Maine to join the volunteer community in Krakow, Poland in caring for Ukrainian refugees. The five of us brought 15 huge bags of medical supplies and medicines (thank you friends and Partners in World Health!). These supplies, plus thousands of dollars of essential items and medicines we purchased in Poland, were delivered by MTW (Mission to the World) vans into Lviv and distributed by a network of churches to clinics and physicians across the country. We were able to deliver hundreds of insulin pens and vials (ice and cooler packs!) all the way into the east of Ukraine where is it desperately needed . While in Krakow we worked daily in the dining tent, helped clean and set up a new welcome center, listened to many stories of traveling moms and grandmas, made to-go (traveling mercies) bags for families beginning the next leg of their journey, played and crafted with kids at the tents and welcome center, helped in a shelter, provided some NP care, met volunteers from around the world, and made connections with so many others helping Ukrainians on both sides of the border.
Now, in May, we are continuing to raise funds for more medications and preparing for another supply trip. Joy and I plan to leave May 12th. The need continues to be great. Distribution within Ukraine is challenging, but our partners have established relationships and listened to needs of specific doctors and clinics. We are focusing our efforts on specific supplies and medications that these Ukrainian partners have requested. The MTW team makes regular deliveries over the border with donated supplies. All of the funds we raise will continue to go directly to caring for Ukrainian families affected by this horrible war on both sides of the border through our MTW partners.
If you have insulin (not expired) you are not using please reach out- there is great need. If you have connections with getting donated surgical supplies (sutures!), cardiac and thyroid medications (in bulk?) let's talk! We are happy to provide a list of most needed supplies and meds.
The war in Ukraine has drifted out of the spotlight now that we are past day #100 since Russia invaded unprovoked. Early in the war the world was ready to help, but the support has changed from a wave to a trickle (as described by the head of humanitarian aid for the city of Krakow when we met at a shelter in May). Ukrainians now face this new phase of war, displacement, grief, trauma, and split families. Needs have shifted in Poland (and much of Ukraine) as acute crisis shifts to long-term crisis.
In response, Joy and Acadia will be returning to Poland again in June! They plan to respond to some of the needs we heard from Ukrainian women and children who continue to be displaced in Krakow, Poland. We are regularly in contact with many of the workers and refugees themselves to know what is needed and requested at this stage. There are still specific medical supplies and medicine (INSULIN) needed to go on the convoy into eastern Ukraine. In Krakow the Welcome Center and shelter have been helping women and children deal with psychological and practical needs through women's groups, children's classes, knitting circles, art therapy, language lessons, music therapy, legal help, food, counseling, and transportation help.
Some of these needs can be purchased in Poland (we are expert shopper in Poland!), others (medical supplies) can be purchased for a tiny fraction of the real price at Partners in World Health in Maine and carried by Joy and Acadia on the plane.
Would you like to join the trickle? The needs continue to be great, but we trust that each small act of kindness contributes to the ocean of support and love we in Maine are sending to Ukraine.
"Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean." ~ Ryunosuke Satoro
PAST TRIP NEWS and POSTS:
In April we had the opportunity to travel from Maine to join the volunteer community in Krakow, Poland in caring for Ukrainian refugees. The five of us brought 15 huge bags of medical supplies and medicines (thank you friends and Partners in World Health!). These supplies, plus thousands of dollars of essential items and medicines we purchased in Poland, were delivered by MTW (Mission to the World) vans into Lviv and distributed by a network of churches to clinics and physicians across the country. We were able to deliver hundreds of insulin pens and vials (ice and cooler packs!) all the way into the east of Ukraine where is it desperately needed . While in Krakow we worked daily in the dining tent, helped clean and set up a new welcome center, listened to many stories of traveling moms and grandmas, made to-go (traveling mercies) bags for families beginning the next leg of their journey, played and crafted with kids at the tents and welcome center, helped in a shelter, provided some NP care, met volunteers from around the world, and made connections with so many others helping Ukrainians on both sides of the border.
Now, in May, we are continuing to raise funds for more medications and preparing for another supply trip. Joy and I plan to leave May 12th. The need continues to be great. Distribution within Ukraine is challenging, but our partners have established relationships and listened to needs of specific doctors and clinics. We are focusing our efforts on specific supplies and medications that these Ukrainian partners have requested. The MTW team makes regular deliveries over the border with donated supplies. All of the funds we raise will continue to go directly to caring for Ukrainian families affected by this horrible war on both sides of the border through our MTW partners.
If you have insulin (not expired) you are not using please reach out- there is great need. If you have connections with getting donated surgical supplies (sutures!), cardiac and thyroid medications (in bulk?) let's talk! We are happy to provide a list of most needed supplies and meds.
Thank you for considering donating,
Joy and Acadia, Misha, & Emily and Anica
(Our team: Misha is a Ukrainian teacher living in Maine with many family members affected by the crisis. Joy has connections with Krakow from living there previously. Emily is a pediatric NP collecting supplies and meds. Different connections and backgrounds, shared goal of helping deliver aid.)
(Our team: Misha is a Ukrainian teacher living in Maine with many family members affected by the crisis. Joy has connections with Krakow from living there previously. Emily is a pediatric NP collecting supplies and meds. Different connections and backgrounds, shared goal of helping deliver aid.)
"Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world's grief. Do justly now, love mercy now, walk humbly now. You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it.” -the Talmud
Fundraising team: Maine to Ukraine (3)
Emily Hickey
Organizer
Portland, ME
Joy Guliani
Team member
Misha Kimov
Team member
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