*UkraineSupport

This one is has been tough. Not sure where to begin.

The time since the last update has been challenging. The highs and lows are a lot to handle and some days just get the best of you. Example when you see a family get their paperwork in order and able to leave for another country to be with friends or familly and have a direction in their life after days of being lost, you feel like the world is getting better day by day. Unfortunatley that can change when immediatley it is followed up with a family that finds out their father/husband was killed so the mother insists on taking the family back to Ukraine to burry him. As much as you try to explain how unsafe that decision is for the children there is nothing you can do to stop them. So you help them to the train and watch them slowly head off. you feel like you failed the childfren and begin to question a lot of things.

The stories of rape, hiding from bombs, running from armed Russians, that you hear first hand hit a lot different than hearing it on the news. Talking with people whos lives are destroyed where they have no idea where to go or what to do is more than you can take sometimes. The family members that are still stuck in Ukraine and have nothing to eat and no way of getting money. Even if you send them money many of them have no access to banking or western union type options and if they did the stores havent been stocked because supplies have been cut off. I just learned that people employed at the time the war started who live and work in the hardest hit areas are given a one time payment of the equivilant of $260 and thats it. There is no unemployment or monthly payments being recieved. One case the lady worked for a company with 20+ locations and because the home office is registered outside the direct combat zone she was denied even though her store was located inside the zone as well as her house.

One of the hardest questions I get asked often is when do I think they war will be over so they can go back home. Often when trying to help them figure out a plan they believe next month they can go back. When you explain that even if the bombs stop tomorrow the busineeses have been destroyed along with homes so finding work will be nearly impossible and that the reality of the sittuation is that Ukraine will take years to rebuild the easier hit areas and decades to rebuild the hardest hit portions. they immediatley begin to cry. 

So what have we been able to do latley, we have been able to help so many people since arriving here and im excited to tell you that the funds will allowed us to continue helping for a good while going forward. The foundation where we have been providing the food, shelter, and showers has been asked to no longer use the offices where they have been for the last 45 days. The organization is looking quickly to move into another facility and we believe that should be wrapped up any day now.

In an attempt to move away from Hotels, Hostels, and AirBNB rentals we been able to rent a large 4 bedroom facility that will be available to families that need to stay a bit longer than a night or two. I will get some pictures up of the facility soon as we are waiting to take posession on Monday. We have rented the facility for 6 months with a 6 month option. This will be a huge help for a number of people that have no idea where to go and is reachable via public transportation and is only one stop from dowtown. While people stay in this facility they will travel to the downtown location for overnight guests and work as volunteers to help the thousands of other refugees and work with staff to find full time jobs, housing, or travel to other host countries that have programs set up. The founder of the charity is an immigration attorney so he is able to assist them at no charge obviously for all their visa needs.

We also have rented a full size van and use it for transportation of refugees and supplies. We were able to negotiate the inclusion of fuel expenses as well as unliited miles allowing it to make trips to Ukraine and safely transport individuals without an added variable expense. If train stations continue to be a target this will be even more valuable. 

Poland is strange in that official receipts arent available until after final processing but I will be uploading the agreements and costs involved with numerous other receipts.

Im sure there is a lot more to fill in and I hope i havent repeated anything but I always do these before going to bed while things are fresh in my head. I wish this update funtion had spell check or at least allow cut and paste because Im sure its full of errors. I also dont believe my photos are uploading at this time so I will try again later.

Thank you again for all you have done, I cant describe how much these people are greatful for what you have done for them.

Its been a few days and I dont recall all of the last update so if anything overlaps forgive me. 

We had a few rough nights at the shelter. We had human trafficking and child abduction / welfare concerns. The medics and police were called in two nights in a row and finally last night things returned to "normal". One lady needed to be removed to a hospital facility as she was so drugged up she couldnt care for her child. It appears the mental side of what she had been through. It was heartbreaking to see her in such a zombie like state. 

While working with the shelter I have met some amazing people. One little girl in the pictures runs and hugs me as soon as she hears my voice when I arrive every day. The child speaks no english yet but is learning to count in english and her ABCs so we have fun with that. We bought her two little stuffed animals which she slepps with everynight. she pets my beard like im a puppy and just laughs! Her mother and her will be leaving for London once paperwork clears. They dont know anyone there but since the mother speaks english its the best place for her future the foundation believes. The doors open every night at the shelter and we fill to capacity quickly. The goal is to expand into a larger facility soon. While traffic is down from 30k through the warsaws stations the people that are coming trough need more help than before and have less resources so Im not sure when this need will end.

I think my mission is about to head into the next stage. On moday I plan to travel from Warsaw to Ukraine every night. We are hearing of struggles in many areas for people to get out, and the concerns of trafficking, so I am going to help them. I plan to load the van with supplies to deliver on the way, I am meeting people in Ukraine that can help with communication and letting the people know they are safe and headed to shelter in Warsaw. 

I am including some photos and will get together a list of receipts as well to update you on where your support is going. We still have a lot of money to distribute. Housing costs have skyrocketed in the last week as there just isnt space available. The people I have met that are involved in this process are nothing short of amazing. The volunteers are just wonderful people from all walks of life (and countries). We all have our roles and work so very well together. 

While this isnt how I thought this trip was going to go, I firmly believe Im where I am supposed to be. The next step is closer to what I was expecting but when I found this group and what they do I couldnt say no. I was scheduled to leave warsaw for good and head into Ukraine but the people here have begged me to stay. I came up with a compromise that allows me to complete what I feel I need to do and still continue to be part of such an amazing important group that helps so many people. Over 1000 women and children have slept here, showered, found food, baby supplies, a warm meal, and even legal help to secure travel to other countries. the team is small but they are changing lives every day. 

Oh one more thing we were able to aquire coloring books and reading books as well as other learning material in Ukrainian because the children that are staying in Poland have nothing in their native language so some of the money you all raised made this happen as well! Its amazing what you all have been able to do so far!

Another update and another insane day, where to begin?

I headed to Central Warsaw Station today and upon arrival found out they were out of non perishable food and all bottled water. I was immediatley able to source from a local grocery store and we bought them out. Two full pallets of water and all kinds of food was loaded into a freight elevator. (this is why the photos suck of the pallets and you really only see one) We moved quickly as I had two volunteers with me from the camp. When we returned to unload police, fire, and military assisted in unloading and delivering to the proper tents. It was amazing seeing us all work efficently together. We were able to get the tent back up and running for the rest of the day at least. 10,000 Ukrainians pass through this camp each day. Many stay and look for a place to sleep others travel on as the city is at near max capacity.I was told today that 1.2 million have stated they are staying in Warsaw permantly and there simply isnt enough housing, jobs, and infrastructure to support that, but thats another days problems.There is a video on the bubble of the man running the camp today personally thanking you all for what you have given. I cant upload it here.

I was then headed "home" for the day and while in my ride I got a call from someone I had met that day. He asked me to come to an address and said he needed some help. When I arrived he walked me into what once was his law offices that he has now converted into a women and children shelter. He allowed me to video and said the ladies had approved for the sake of sharing the story. Im not sure where I will upload yet it since I cant here, but I will get it uploaded soon. We discussed his mission and what his needs are for the ladies as he gets 40 new women and children every night even as I was leaving at 1:30 am two more were brought in. One family needed two tickets to Amsterdam to be with the only familly they had left so I arranged that to happen with some of the funds from this group. The woman and her daughter were so appreciative even without knowing english you could tell they were greatful to be one step closer to saftey and family. They are in one of the photos I am uplading here. I then headed back to the camp to work a few more hours and wrapped up aound 3:30 and headed back to get some sleep. 

We have a very full day tomorrow between buying more supplies, workinng the camp, meeting with another Hostle and then back to the womans shelter to unload supplies and help get women checked in and settled as the doors open at the facility at 7pm. 

I may be moving updates to another source here soon but I will let you all know when I do.

Thank you all for your continued support. 

 

Another quick update, forgive gramtical and spelling errors I am at the worlds smallest table and doing my best, which normally isnt that good either. 

The last 24 hours taught me a lot about logistics of helping others in these situations. The Hostel in Warsaw we are using is called Oki Doki (yeah crazy) you can use the link if you dont believe its called that or just want to see where these people will be excited to stay. We went with it due to its proximity to the train station to make it easy on the refugees to get there, and their willingness to let me book and just give my name when people arrive to be taken care of. The refugees will all share one room to ensure they arent sperated and are among others for support.

To give you an idea roughly $100 USD provides clean shelter for someone for a week with a restroom and warm shower. So even a $20 donation got someone inside and warm for a night so be proud of yourselves for giving regardless of the amount. This is the most recent transaction and she should be emailing me space for two more she found but we couldnt process online. Each person is allowed a week of stay and if they only need a few days the extra days are left in account for another person to use. Additional days will be added as we go along. We have also been able to suupport four full families for a week by renting flats. Those are becoming very cost prohbitive and difficult to find where transportation doesnt create another issue. I plan to visit the Hostel tomorrow to finalize some things before heading over to the central train station. Link to Hostel

Most of what we are doing is for women and children as the men stayed to fight. There is a real saftey concern with human traficking so I choose to work through volunteers at the local train station to make sure everyone feels safe with my intentions and poor communication. I will only accomadate someone on the trip to the hostel or flat if they feel scared and request my assistance. Somehow a 6'5 and now slim 235lb bearded American isnt the most comforting face to welcome you in Warsaw. 

Now for the what Ive learned from people here. After talking with a group that fled last night and we were able to get in a flat. They asked why America hasnt helped them out. I found it interesting that they thought Trump was a mean and terrible person but believe they wouldnt be running for their lives and leaving loved ones to fight if he was still in office. They ask why we chose such an old man to lead our country and he wont help fight. I really had no answer to their questions other than the US is in period of change and finding it difficult to get the results many of us want to see, and despite what they see in the media most of us all agree and are pushing towards a common goal of a better country for all.

I told them of the community in which I live and showed them the fundraising site and my restaurant facebook page when they asked how I know these people that donated to them. When Olga began to cry and wanted to come to the US, its was a bit much for this big guy. I imediatley reached out to our lobiest and friend Doug Talbot to see if we could get the ear of Dewine to invite a portion of the refugees that were just approved jesterday into central Ohio. These people want to work and raise their families without fear. What a betterplace than our wonderful community. 

I will try and get some generic pictures of some of whats going on but feel strange taking photos of those we help and capturing them at their worst moment in life. I havent even felt safe askind friends Ive made here for a photo as the culture seems way less comfortable with photos than in Ohio.

Again Thank You for being a part of this jorney that will affect Ukrainians and myself for the rest of our lives. I havent met a Ukrainian yet that isnt a stroger person than I am. These people are amazing.