[ad_1]
At the beginning of March, I decided to travel to Ukraine to raise money to help people directly affected by the war.
This decision was made in the belief that my experiences as a mental health counselor, combat veteran, and former military contractor would bridge the gap between the community in North Idaho and the people in Ukraine.
My goal was to raise money and show my community how your donations are making an immediate impact.
I traveled completely on my own because I didn’t know anyone in Ukraine or speak the language. The plan was to find a pastor in Ukraine that I found online. I begged him to allow me the opportunity to go there and help him.
Making this trip into an active war zone was terrifying, but it was a calling. Putting my fear aside, I left my wife and young children behind and spent a month in Ukraine.
The response from not only my community, but communities across America was nothing short of miraculous. We raised $170,000 and received thousands of dollars worth of medical supplies.
Donations started coming in from day 1 and we were able to start a shelter for displaced families in L’viv.
During this trip, I was able to bring medical supplies to areas where they were most needed, evacuate civilians from occupied cities, and teach mental health seminars on PTSD and trauma.
As the war progressed, I had to process the devastating effects of this war. It makes me sad to be in recently destroyed buildings with the smell of burnt flesh in the air.
Experiencing rocket and artillery attacks in Kiev is frightening to say the least.
Helping young children who are severely injured and unable to speak is unforgettable.
Dozens of survivors of the Bucha and Erpen raids have shared their harrowing stories. The Bucha mass grave where innocent civilians were killed during the invasion is very real.
These experiences and memories are what motivate me to remember that what we have achieved in less than six months is beyond my expectations.
Our communities have stepped in and shown such love to the people in Ukraine. People wanted to help; They just needed a way to do it.
We created Project Victory Ukraine, a federally approved non-profit organization. The organization now has loyal members, a medical team, a campaign team and a board of trusted partners across Ukraine.
We have partnered with the Ukrainian National Police, Ukrainian churches, the Ukrainian Chaplaincy Guard, as well as private foundations and businesses across America.
We received donations from the Netherlands, Australia, and all over the US.For example, we had no concrete way to ship supplies to Ukraine, but we have since partnered with a Ukrainian-American shipping company in Chicago. This family refuses to charge full shipping rates and helps us get supplies directly to Kyiv.
Despite the ugliness of war, I also see the beautiful side of humanity.
I see Ukrainians coming together to help their fellow citizens.
I was with men who risked their lives every day, evacuating women and children.
I sit with young women who have survived some unspeakable atrocities and now work at a shelter preparing food to deliver to those in need.
We have American doctors and nurses working around the clock to secure critical surgical supplies that are then transported directly to the front line hospitals.
Kids in our neighborhood are making signs, making ornaments and selling lemonade while donating everything they can to this cause.
American companies are matching employee donations and giving nonprofits discounts on travel and other medical supplies.
And Project Victory board members work tirelessly without collecting a salary.
We are bringing additional surgical equipment to the front line, including an EKG machine requested by doctors.
We are cooperating with the National Police of Ukraine to sponsor children who lost their parents in the war. These kids are creating wish lists that include school supplies, toiletries, food, and some small toys.
The support we have received as we prepare to embark on this third journey is nothing short of amazing. There are no words to describe what our communities have accomplished.
But we want more. Every human life is worth saving.
To donate go to www.gofundme.com/victoryukraine
Jared Malone is a Mental Health Consultant at Heritage Health. A former enlisted Marine, he served two combat tours in Iraq in his 20s and later served three years as a military contractor in Iraq. Jared and his wife live in Post Falls and have two children together.
[ad_2]
Source link
