Who Are We?
Medical Vets Aid Ukraine Inc is a grassroots 501(c)(3) (pending) charitable organization founded by a group of military veterans who self-organized while watching news of the war in Ukraine, the atrocities being committed against civilians and persons who would typically have protected status (for example, medical personnel), and the unfolding humanitarian crisis. We were infuriated, heartbroken, and determined to do everything -- including risk our own lives -- to help. At present time we are an eclectic mix of former Navy corpsmen (8404), Army medic (68W), Navy Medical Officer (2100), non-medical Marines with field care experience, and civilian paramedics. All of us are civilians now. We are bound together by the common feeling that what is happening now cannot stand, and we must do what we can within our own skillsets to save lives.
https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/news/20220317/more-russian-attacks-on-ukraine
What Are We Doing?
We are already present in Ukraine, with more personnel joining, providing free medical care to sick or injured persons within Ukraine. We provide care to anybody that requires it. We are focusing on filling medical needs between front-line medical care, and higher-level medical care such as that found within hospitals. The following news clipping captures the environment:
https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2022/03/16/1086982186/russias-strike-on-ukraine-maternity-hospital-is-part-of-a-terrible-wartime-tradi
Thus far we have been providing medical training to newly enlisting medical personnel who have never before been taught how to use the items in their individual first aid kits (IFAKs), such as how to effectively use a tourniquet, chest seal, or how to pack a wound. As our medical team and supplies arive in country we will be transitioning to active medical care, and anticipate providing a form of care called Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) which comprises care under fire, tactical field care (indirect fire), and tactical evacuation care. We are not focusing on refugee operations, as there are significant resources and personnel already for that purpose. We are intending to provide medical support where, due to the dangers, there are few, if any, other organizations present.
For those that are interested in learning more about TCCC, please follow the link.
In addition, we acknowledge that there are other medical providers who would like to help in Ukraine, but who desire or are better suited to remain within a hospital setting. Planning our activities has naturally resulted in making numerous connections to other groups and organizations within Ukraine, and we are using those connections to place other medical providers in more traditional medical settings, and ensuring that they arrive there safely.
Where Do Donations Go?
This campaign will fund these operations, including:
- Purchasing first aid, trauma, and general medical supplies.
- Purchasing medications.
- Purchasing ancillary supplies (such as containers to carry the above, batteries, water purification supplies, etc).
- Paying for related expenses (shipping costs, excess baggage fees for medical containers, transporation within Ukraine including vehicles and gas, etc).
- Of note: donations are used to purchase supplies that go directly to us on or near areas of conflict. Your donation will not result in supplies languishing at some warehouse in Warsaw or Lviv.
A large part of an endeavor such as this is supporting the logistics and making certain that our activities are sustainable. We do already have logistics in place for moving people and supplies from EU countries into Ukraine. We will not enter an area without having plans for sustainability of supplies (medical, food, water) for the planned time period of activity, evacuation routes, rendezvous points, and means of communication.
Volunteers are not paid for their activities. However, in the interest of keeping volunteers as safe as possible given the circumstances, funds may also be used to reimburse the purchase of body armor, ballistic helmets and eye protection, and IFAKs, up to certain maximums for each, though medical supplies will always be the priority. Funds will not be used to cover the cost of firearms.
Special Mentions
Courtesy of donations collected here, and a very generous donation from Lord of Life Lutheran Church, we have been able to procure over $10,000 worth of trauma supplies that are now headed to Ukraine. This will be enough for us to start with, but ongoing donations will be necessary to replace the medical supplies as they are used. After all, a dose of antibiotic or a bag of IV fluids can each only be used once.
Lord of Life Lutheran provided the seed money for our initial purchase of trauma supplies, courtesy of their Military Family Support Ministry. The donation was made in memory of CPL Allen Giller, who died unexpectedly on March 17, 2022. He was a U.S. Marine who shared a birthday with the U.S. Marine Corps, and deployed to Afghanistan as part of OEF. He will have a service in May with honors rendered by the Marine Color Guard.
One of the initial goals of Medical Vets Aid Ukraine was to fund the creation of 100x IFAKs at a cost of roughly $14,000; each kit runs approximately $135. After partial completion of the 100 IFAKs, Lord of Life Lutheran assumed responsibility for the IFAK project and have expanded the goal, and we will be coordinating with them on the other end to make sure that the kits make it to the front lines. One of the ongoing problems we have been hearing reports of has been supplies piling-up in Lviv without making it to those in need: we aim to take a personal hand in ensuring that this does not happen with the kits and other supplies that are donated to us (we will be the ones ordering the supplies, so we know where it's coming from, where it's going to, and how it's getting there).
We would also like to thank Jenks 1929, and specifically Michael and Jodi. They learned of our efforts and coordinated a benefits concert complete with donated meals and artwork, and have raised local awareness for further fundraising and support.
Thank you to Lucas Elliott, Brianna Reagan, and Lori G. for producing pro-bono artwork and flyers.
Our friends and family for their faith in us, courage in permitting us to go, understanding of why this is so important for us, and in some cases expressing a desire to come with (but being willing to remain home and keep working in our absence to ensure that the mortgages are paid so that we have a home to return to).
Medical Vets Aid Ukraine Inc has submitted Form 1023 and applied for 501(c)(3) status with the IRS as of March 28, 2022. If/once the organization receives it's tax-exempt designation, donations dating back to the incorporation date of March 21, 2022 may qualify for a tax deduction and will be listed on the donors' *spotfund end of year tax report.
