Ukraine Refugee Assistance

In reply to Hungary Bill (Forum Supporter) :

If you're ever buying coffee at a fuel station in Ukraine, the process goes exactly like this:

First you pay for your coffee.  This is separate from any other transactions you're doing.  Ordering is easy as "Americano" and "Cappuccino" are pronounced in Ukraine the exact same way you pronounce them in every other language (go figure, right?).  Cappuccino is the easiest because there are no questions, Americano is slightly more difficult because the cashier is going to ask if you want milk.  So when she asked me the expected question, I answered "Hi" (pronounced "Knee") even though I didn't understand a single word of what she said.

and that folks, is how you do that!

except it isn't...  My response caused complete confusion, so you shouldn't really listen at all to my coffee buying advice.  When everything was cleared Mrs. Hungary got a cup, I paid, and did not get my americano.

(for completion, you take your receipt to the machine, scan it, and press the button to make your order.  done and done)

ohhh, man, my bad - i missed it and didn't explain you how it works. Why you didn't ask me? 

Ha-haaa! you reminded me of the couple stories i tried to order Americano at gas stations. What's funny is that this was happening in Hungary 

During my first visit to Hungary and it was my first trip to Europe and out of Ukraine - i didn't speak English then, ha-ha - in Hungarian even more so. So we stopped at a gas station early in the morning. I decided to have a cup of coffee - it seemed easy - just say Americano and give your card to the cashier for pay. Right? yeah, nooo... just not in Hungary  There's no Americano in Hungary!!! What we call Americano in Hungary is kávé - but i didn't know that yet and i can't explain what i need  aaaa.... i managed to get my cup of coffee, though!!! 

In Budapest, to avoid awkward situations we used to go to McDonald's for coffee - you just point your finger at the menu and pay by your card, that's easy and you won!!!

The next one happened during my second trip to Hungary - i'm already able to explain what i need in English, but this time it seems like the cashier doesn't understand English... hmmm... i say "kave", please, no milk, no sugar and i gesture at what i'm saying. What did i get? a cup of coffee, cream and sugar were separate - well, it's not bad!!!

So i wish we could always have a cup of Americano!!! Cheers!!!

Hi everyone!!! 

Latest Dnipro's fund updates 

Baby-girl Sofia got food and diapers 

Messages from her parents (translation)

- Everything's arrived, thank you very much!!!

tell us how we can thank you,you've done so much for us. - 

My answer is

- May your daughter grow up healthy and happy. That's what we're here for- to help the kids. -

The second one - meds for Sergei

Thanks to everyone for your help and support 

84FSP said:

Holy Carp - you guys are amazing!  So many smiling faces in spite of the challenges.  Keep up the great work to make a tough situation a bit better.

That was easily one of the most demanding trips we've done, and it was made a LOT easier by all the organization that everyone did along the way.  The clothes, the stuffies, the art supplies, the lists...  No way could we have gotten everything where it needed to go had everyone not done such an awesome job.  Thank you all so much!

VikkiDp said:

Would we have stood alone?hmm, honestly, i'm not sure, but we wouldn't have given up - that's for sure!!! absolutely!!! Ukraine is our home!!!

I was just thinking about this today when I was driving back from Budapest.  When the invasion first started everything seemed lost in the static of war.  My social media feed was full of information about the fighting and none of it made any sense, and none of it was helped by my lack of geographical knowledge either.  It seemed certain that a russian occupation of the entire country was imminent.

And then I remember President Zelenskyy's video "Look.  I'm still here.  We're all still here" and right then I knew that there was a chance.  The russians threw themselves as hard as they could at the wall that became Ukraine, and when the dust cleared we all saw that wall was still standing.  I knew that if Ukraine was going to succeed then everyone was going to have to get behind the freedom fighters and help them keep that wall up.  Not knowing who else to ask, I wrote Andrew Szabo from the Budapest to Bamako Rallye as he had just created a page "B2B Ukraine Refugee Assistance". 

"Do you have a list of medical supplies that Ukraine needs?"

The answer was yes.  And I immediately started filling boxes with money that was donated.  Another friend of mine did the same thing.  We had 4 in total, and then I asked "Where do we send this?"

He told be to get it to Budapest and he would take care of the rest.  Fighting was still taking place in Kyiv, but he could get the boxes to Lviv. 

After our chat, I saw him post to the Budapest to Bamako page "Can anyone get these boxes east from Lviv.  A veteran of the rallye says the road is an 8 out of 10 on an easy scale"

He had an answer in 5 minutes.  A van was headed east from the Czech Republic.  He had room on his trailer for the boxes and promised to run them as far east as he could.  He made it to Zhytomyr.

I knew right then and there that if three guys who had never met could organize and run medical supplies that insanely easily then there must be a MILLION of us out here doing the same thing.  It was the only answer that seemed reasonable.

I immediately geared up and started a second donation drive.  This time for the Hospitallers Battalion.  When the boxes were filled, and I drove myself to Lviv and my suspicions were confirmed.  Every vehicle at the border (hundreds of them!) were loaded as full as they could possibly be, and all were headed into Ukraine. 

The whole world heard the call, and we all came to help hold up that wall of fighters.

And now look at us.  Our wall has pushed the invaders east, despite wave after wave of humans being literally thrown at it.  We're breaking through in Robotyne, and also in the east!

There was a sentence on that gift bottle of vodka you gave me and I never thought about it until I read it:

"Born in Ukraine, during the resistance"

That's us...  We're the resistance.   And it never dawned on me until I saw it written on the box.

When evil men stood up and said "We're coming over and taking charge because we're bigger than you and there's nothing you can do about it". 

We got up and said "No.  That's not right".

And here we are.

Would Ukraine have survived on its own?  We'll never know.  Because Ukraine was never alone.

VikkiDp said:

In reply to Hungary Bill (Forum Supporter) :

If you're ever buying coffee at a fuel station in Ukraine, the process goes exactly like this:

First you pay for your coffee.  This is separate from any other transactions you're doing.  Ordering is easy as "Americano" and "Cappuccino" are pronounced in Ukraine the exact same way you pronounce them in every other language (go figure, right?).  Cappuccino is the easiest because there are no questions, Americano is slightly more difficult because the cashier is going to ask if you want milk.  So when she asked me the expected question, I answered "Hi" (pronounced "Knee") even though I didn't understand a single word of what she said.

and that folks, is how you do that!

except it isn't...  My response caused complete confusion, so you shouldn't really listen at all to my coffee buying advice.  When everything was cleared Mrs. Hungary got a cup, I paid, and did not get my americano.

(for completion, you take your receipt to the machine, scan it, and press the button to make your order.  done and done)

ohhh, man, my bad - i missed it and didn't explain you how it works. Why you didn't ask me? 

Ha-haaa! you reminded me of the couple stories i tried to order Americano at gas stations. What's funny is that this was happening in Hungary 

During my first visit to Hungary and it was my first trip to Europe and out of Ukraine - i didn't speak English then, ha-ha - in Hungarian even more so. So we stopped at a gas station early in the morning. I decided to have a cup of coffee - it seemed easy - just say Americano and give your card to the cashier for pay. Right? yeah, nooo... just not in Hungary  There's no Americano in Hungary!!! What we call Americano in Hungary is kávé - but i didn't know that yet and i can't explain what i need  aaaa.... i managed to get my cup of coffee, though!!! 

In Budapest, to avoid awkward situations we used to go to McDonald's for coffee - you just point your finger at the menu and pay by your card, that's easy and you won!!!

The next one happened during my second trip to Hungary - i'm already able to explain what i need in English, but this time it seems like the cashier doesn't understand English... hmmm... i say "kave", please, no milk, no sugar and i gesture at what i'm saying. What did i get? a cup of coffee, cream and sugar were separate - well, it's not bad!!!

So i wish we could always have a cup of Americano!!! Cheers!!!

Too funny!  "Kave" was the first word I learned in Hungarian!  It got me an "espresso".  It turns out that what I actually wanted was a "hoszu kave"  (long coffee).

Fun memories.

But seriously.  I think learning Ukrainian is WAY easier than Hungarian.  This language sounds like it came from Mars, it's hilarious!  When I go through Slovakia, or Poland, or Ukraine, I know a couple words in every language because they're all shared in some way with each other.

When I'm in Hungary?  oof...  nothing is shared (except maybe a couple bad words)

And here's the Monday update from Hungary:

Ok, so Kisgorbo is sitting just under 200,000huf, but we're still way early in the month.

GoFundMe date is still slated to open on November 1st.  We have a couple small border runs planned between now and then, but that will be our big December Christmas run.

I do have an update from Ira as I have received her art supplies.  Expect that to be posted on Tuesday (lots of good news in that one)

I'm temporarily closing our baby blanket, clothes, etc until we can find a cheap and reliable way of forwarding freight.  Our previous friends will be departing here shortly and starting their new assignment at the beginning of next month (THANKS YOU TWO!!!!!!)

As you saw, we have some supplies from our amazon lists purchased and headed this way for the Hospitallers, but I also have $100 sitting in our yahoo paypal as well.  My brother's package of decompression needles is heading this way and I'm really struggling with what to do as the money from selling the car wont be available to us anywhere NEAR as quick as I thought it would (long story, but it's ok.  The cash is secure).  We're working on ways to free that up, and I'm still in contact with North American Rescue in Ukraine (and they're 100% up to help as much as needed).  More to follow, for sure

Aaaaaaand stuffies!  We have some!!!  An entire box full!  I'll post an update on this one as well on tuesday.

Cheers guys!

Ok.  Donation link updates

Currently Open:

Kisgorbo Refugee Shelter (Monthly Sustainment):  paypal@gmail address (Hungarian Forint)

Hospitallers Battalion (chest vents needed):  paypal@yahoo address (US Dollars)

Currently being worked on:

Hospitallers Battalion Amazon lists

• US Based List:  https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/399BDXHVTXLBF?ref_=wl_share
• Europe Based List:  https://www.amazon.de/hz/wishlist/ls/3MMLJUWGLY7JS?ref_=wl_share

Note on Amazon wishlist issues: 

I'm afraid I have zero power over the Amazon wishlist issues.  Once the warning is gone, we can try to fire off a test shot and see what happens.

Rebeka M. Communication is ongoing.  I've fired a test shot from each amazon list to my PO box.  The first on has failed.   I have adjusted, and the second one should be here on Tuesday.  Once success has been confirmed then I will post the address here and give her the green light to share with her followers who want to send their items instead of money.

Currently Closed:

GoFundMe:  Expect this channel to open on the 1st of November for our Christmas run.

Thank you everyone.

I regret that we have to start today with some bad news before we can get to the good news.  Last night a vehicle carrying 4 humanitarian aid workers from "Road to Relief" came under direct attack by russian forces and were hit by an ATGM.  The director and a founding member were both pronounced dead, and two others escaped with injuries.

info@roadtorelief.org

https://www.facebook.com/road2relief

https://www.instagram.com/p/CxDGFcGMmxl/?img_index=1

I didn't have the words last night, so I didn't post it here but I've calmed down since then and I think I know what I want to say today:

"You think you won that exchange.  You think you destroyed a vehicle.  All you did was bring three more in.  You think you killed the director of an organization.  But you've just created two more.  You think you stopped something from reaching its destination.  But every strike at a civilian target makes us work that much harder.  Every shipment of aid you destroy drives more in.  Every civilian death pushes us that much further east...  To push you out.

Because here's what you forgot when you decided to shoulder that weapon and fire at innocents:  The target you were supposed to be shooting at?  The tank that that missile was destined for?  It's still out there...  Looking for you.  And we promise you're going to find it much less forgiving than we are."

And as promised, because good will always prevail, here's what else was happening yesterday.

Previously not posted, THE ART SUPPLIES ARRIVED!!!!

This drove immediate coordination with Ira, and we scheduled this Monday as a delivery date for the kids (we wanted to get their week started off with a BANG)

SO!

Up at 4am for reasons unknown to me (I'm working a late shift and really should be sleeping).  I decide to prep the truck for today's run.  I've still got the chocolate in the cooler (to keep it from melting, although now it's indoors) and I'm going to transfer it to a box.  It's an early run today so I should be able to get the chocolate into the school before it gets too warm.  Here goes:

I got a new helper with me this time and he's doing a pretty good job.  More on him later because after I get the truck loaded and ready, it's time to wake the Hungarlings and get them ready for school.

Out the door at 7am, and I'm back in the garage double checking things.  The way things have been going, I decide to grab my plastic tub of spares and then toss in a jug of deionized water I bought the last time I was in Ukraine (since the radiator's been intermittently leaking, why take chances)

The drive to the school is pretty uneventful.  Traffic sucks, but I'm making good time.  I DID leave a little late, but still got to Ira by 10:00am.  Just in time.

I show her the haul, and she's stoked.  We bring it in, and she calls EVERY KID out of the classroom.  Not knowing what's going on, they all file in.  The boxes are closed at this point, and they can't really see what's going on.  The boy who asked if I was visiting Kharkiv walks by, he's one of the last students to do so.  As he does, I crack open the box of chocolates and tip it towards him so he can sneak a peak.

His eyes get BIG

He trots over to the group and Ira is calming them down.  She is explaining in Ukrainian who I am (a volunteer), and what we're doing.  She asks where I drove on this last run, and I say "Dnipro, Poltava, and Kyiv".

She asks the group "Anyone from Kyiv?"  (hands go up)

"Anyone from Poltava?"  (one hand goes up).

She goes on explaining and I can see three young girls trying to work up the courage to come over and talk to me.  I'm guessing the middle one speaks some english.  It's kind of funny.

The group is marshaled over to the tables and boxes are opened

"KHARKYIV!!!!!!!" a bunch of them exclaim as they pull out the first boxes of buttered biscuits.

more investigate the chocolates, and Ira is making sure no one touches.  Then she mentions the art supplies on the table behind them and those who can, turn 180-degrees to investigate.  The others charge over, under, and around tables to get a peek.  Paint kits are pulled out and held up, a couple of the kids excitedly gather around the bead kits, and Ira says something that sounds like "just look, no touching!"

and everyone complies.

Ira goes on talking, and we get a big group "THANK YOU" which makes me realize I REALLY need to learn how to say "You're welcome in Ukrainian"

The boy from Kharkyiv comes over and gives me a HUGE hug.  Ira explains that this is the boy who asked, but I already knew.  The three girls finally got up the courage and approach me

"Thank you very much" the middle one say.

"You're very welcome" I reply.

Their faces turn beet red, and they scurry off.

Ira and I talk a bit.  We've got one more plan to enact before all is said and done, so stay tuned for that one.  But for now, here's a couple photos I snapped of the action:

Thank you Vikki for buying those chocolates and being so thoughtful when it came to selecting those biscuits.  The kids REALLY loved them.

Thank you Girthquake for sending those art supplies.  If there had to be a "last box" through that APO, I'm glad it was one that was so well received.
 

Back at the truck I fire it up.  The last time I was here I stopped because it sounded like my engine was having trouble getting lubrication to the top end.  This time it does the same thing.  I'm firmly deciding that it's the parking situation at this place as this doesn't happen anywhere else.

One the road, I am flying.  I have to go to work today and I'd really like a shower before I do so.  Once off the highway I notice that my truck is hunting for idle again.  This normally happens when I'm low on coolant, but when I pop the radiator cap, it looks full!

(also, this does give me a good opportunity to show you those two pinholes I'm always complaining about)

Yummy.

I decide that the IACV (Idle Air Control Valve) must be crudded up, and leave it that way for the rest of today.  I blew it out today and topped the radiator with one liter of coolant and things are back to normal.

Not a bad run.

So where from here:

Well we sold that car, remember?  The decompression needles are on their way, and we have $4000 in our account.  Because of a temporary personal financial situation (read, we have workers at the house) we can't touch $3000 of that money until the work is done in October, or until we can save $3000 outside of our bank account.  The plan Mrs. Hungary and I came up with was to spend the free $1000 on truck parts (radiator, hose, and rear window switch) and repay it once the workers at our house are finished.  At that point the full $4000 will be unlocked and we can spend it all on chest vents.

And from there we'll just need to figure out a way to get them into the country and to their destination.

The Hospitallers are our primary target for this one, but we've yet to re-establish contact.  "Rebeka M" is still in contact so we're going to add her in as a secondary mission objective.

One way or another, we'll get it done.

Ok, and we have our raffle winners!!!

I know it's been a LOOOOONG time since we mentioned it, but Vikki and I had a couple prizes to send out to people who donated.  We allocated tickets at $10 a piece and drew names today!

I've already reached out to two individuals to get their address, but unfortunately for the other two people I already had it

One person has already received their gift, one person should be receiving theirs VERY soon, and the other two will be posted directly from Ukraine here very shortly.

Merry christmas in September everyone!  I can't wait to see what you all got!

In reply to Hungary Bill (Forum Supporter) :

Yesss!!! my congrats to winners!!!

The prizes are on their way to the recipients  i sent them directly from Ukraine, directly from Dnipro (of course!!!) on Friday 

 I can't wait to see what you all got! 

me too!!! and i'm already thinking about prizes for the next run  any suggestions? any wishes? just let me know 

Hungary Bill (Forum Supporter) said:

I regret that we have to start today with some bad news before we can get to the good news.  Last night a vehicle carrying 4 humanitarian aid workers from "Road to Relief" came under direct attack by russian forces and were hit by an ATGM.  The director and a founding member were both pronounced dead, and two others escaped with injuries.

info@roadtorelief.org

https://www.facebook.com/road2relief

https://www.instagram.com/p/CxDGFcGMmxl/?img_index=1

 

I didn't have the words last night, so I didn't post it here but I've calmed down since then and I think I know what I want to say today:

"You think you won that exchange.  You think you destroyed a vehicle.  All you did was bring three more in.  You think you killed the director of an organization.  But you've just created two more.  You think you stopped something from reaching its destination.  But every strike at a civilian target makes us work that much harder.  Every shipment of aid you destroy drives more in.  Every civilian death pushes us that much further east...  To push you out.

Because here's what you forgot when you decided to shoulder that weapon and fire at innocents:  The target you were supposed to be shooting at?  The tank that that missile was destined for?  It's still out there...  Looking for you.  And we promise you're going to find it much less forgiving than we are."

It's absolutely awful!!! the war is awful!!! any war is pain, death, loss, destruction, broken people and their destinies.

I often ask myself (too often) - why? Where humanity took a wrong turn? why are questions and disagreements in the civilized world still settled by wars? I don't have answers to these questions.

Planet Earth is our common home - why threaten someone with nuclear weapons? does it make sense?

to destroy Nature with weapons? does it make sense?

I believe, maybe it's a little naively, that everyone comes into this world to do something good, everyone has their own unique talent. If everyone makes a little effort and does their best the world would definitely be a better place  and I'm sure that's most of the people 

Good will always prevail!!! Always!!!

Thanks to those people who are trying to make it!!!

In reply to Hungary Bill (Forum Supporter) :

Awww, man, it's absolutely AMAZING report!!! I love it so much!!!

So many happy kids' faces - tears come to my eyes when i looking at these photos (i'm allowed, i'm a girl   and let the boys chop onions)

Thanks Bill, thanks Girthquake and thanks me 

VikkiDp said:

Hungary Bill (Forum Supporter) said:

I regret that we have to start today with some bad news before we can get to the good news.  Last night a vehicle carrying 4 humanitarian aid workers from "Road to Relief" came under direct attack by russian forces and were hit by an ATGM.  The director and a founding member were both pronounced dead, and two others escaped with injuries.

info@roadtorelief.org

https://www.facebook.com/road2relief

https://www.instagram.com/p/CxDGFcGMmxl/?img_index=1

 

I didn't have the words last night, so I didn't post it here but I've calmed down since then and I think I know what I want to say today:

"You think you won that exchange.  You think you destroyed a vehicle.  All you did was bring three more in.  You think you killed the director of an organization.  But you've just created two more.  You think you stopped something from reaching its destination.  But every strike at a civilian target makes us work that much harder.  Every shipment of aid you destroy drives more in.  Every civilian death pushes us that much further east...  To push you out.

Because here's what you forgot when you decided to shoulder that weapon and fire at innocents:  The target you were supposed to be shooting at?  The tank that that missile was destined for?  It's still out there...  Looking for you.  And we promise you're going to find it much less forgiving than we are."

It's absolutely awful!!! the war is awful!!! any war is pain, death, loss, destruction, broken people and their destinies.

I often ask myself (too often) - why? Where humanity took a wrong turn? why are questions and disagreements in the civilized world still settled by wars? I don't have answers to these questions.

Planet Earth is our common home - why threaten someone with nuclear weapons? does it make sense?

to destroy Nature with weapons? does it make sense?

I believe, maybe it's a little naively, that everyone comes into this world to do something good, everyone has their own unique talent. And if everyone makes a little effort and does their best the world would definitely be a better place 

Can't add anything to that so I'll just quote it so we can all read it again. 

In reply to Hungary Bill (Forum Supporter) :

When I go through Slovakia, or Poland, or Ukraine, I know a couple words in every language because they're all shared in some way with each other.

they're all languages of the same Slavic group - so they have something in common.

Because I know Ukrainian and Russian, I understand Polish and Belarusian very well. 

I can't say anything about Slovakian language. You have more experience with it. 

In reply to Hungary Bill (Forum Supporter) :

I remember all that, everything that started the help here 

"Born in Ukraine, during the resistance"

That's us...  We're the resistance.   And it never dawned on me until I saw it written on the box.

When evil men stood up and said "We're coming over and taking charge because we're bigger than you and there's nothing you can do about it". 

We got up and said "No.  That's not right".

And here we are.

Would Ukraine have survived on its own?  We'll never know.  Because Ukraine was never alone.

That's TRUE!!!

I'd like to add one more thing - well, two  

First - the name of vodka is Nepoborna and i want to try to explain what it mean.

There is no exact translation of this word from Ukrainian to English and there's no way to describe it in one word.

Nepoborna is the power of the spirit, powerful, unbreakable, unstoppable, invincible - all these words together and it's the spirit of Ukraine.

The second one - this point on the map is Snake island - you know what it mean 

Hungary Bill (Forum Supporter) said:

Ok, and we have our raffle winners!!!

I know it's been a LOOOOONG time since we mentioned it, but Vikki and I had a couple prizes to send out to people who donated.  We allocated tickets at $10 a piece and drew names today!

I've already reached out to two individuals to get their address, but unfortunately for the other two people I already had it

One person has already received their gift, one person should be receiving theirs VERY soon, and the other two will be posted directly from Ukraine here very shortly.

Merry christmas in September everyone!  I can't wait to see what you all got!

I got Ukrainian Javelin vodka!

Thank you so much Bill and Vikki! We are going to open it and celebrate when Ukraine is victorious.

In reply to Javelin :

Great!!!

It was funny  because when Bill bought this bottle, he had no idea what is written on it and when i translated him 

He said: Javelin for Javelin? right? 

Yeah, man, right!!!

Cheers!!!

Late Monday Update!

Sorry guys, I am absolutely buried in work at the moment.  Here's where we're at.

Ok, starting at the top, we're just shy of 200,000 forint for the kisgorbo shelter.  The transfer day falls on a weekend this time so we'll be transferring the following Monday on that one.

I have to hold off on the GoFundMe portion right now as something may be in the works.  I'll explain in a sec, but it's very much the reason I've not been on here all week.

Ira's School supplies are on hold.  I'm able to accept donations if we can find a way to get them here, but she's been working on trying to get school books from Ukraine and I've offered to drive them back to her from the border if needed.  More to follow

Baby clothes etc are temporarily on hold until we can find a freight forwarder

Hospitallers I really need to reestablish contact with.  I have 200ea chest vents en route to my location, and I've upped the total donations received to $3100 but $3000 of that is funds from the car sale that are currently in limbo.  Once that's settled, I'll begin purchasing chest vents.

And Stuffies!  I do have one box of stuffies for our December run!

Ok.  GoFundMe:
As stated, I've offered to bring books back for Ira and the Ukrainian school in Budapest.  That was supposed to happen yesterday (Tuesday, the 19th).  Unfortunately her books were delayed as they're printed in Kharkyiv, AND every other school in Ukraine needs books too.  Not a good mix for on-time delivery, so things are in delay.

Which works, because the Hungarian post is being their slow selves and I haven't received the decompression needle package from my brother that I was going to take with me to mail off when I went to pick up the books.

(everyone follow)

And, as if on cue, I saw a message from a volunteer currently in Lviv on the "Kyiv Independent's" discord server stating that "a medic on the front" told them about food shortages, and how everyone was focused on weapons but basic medicine and food were also needed.

I asked if that person was talking with "Rebeka" (previously mentioned combat medic) and they answered in the affirmative.  I'm in the process of verifying info, and approving a plan, but the short and long of it is I may fire up a GoFundMe to purchase food supplies for Rebeka's battalion.  The idea would be to collect as long as possible (but no later than November 1st), buy as much food as possible, and when Ira's books are available then I'll load up the truck with the Hospitaller's supplies, Rebeka's food, and drive in to get Ira's books.

I'll post everything through Ukraine's Novoposht system, and everyone gets what they need!

The "No later than November 1st" is no accident though, as that's when I plan on opening up our Christmas donation drive.  These two fundraisers being butted against each other, I'm worried we'll exhaust our donors on the first and run out of steam before the second.  Not really sure yet on all this (but always open for advice)

Anyhoo.  That's what's been keeping me from the keyboard lately.  Here's an idea of what we'd be looking at buying with any fundraiser money:

Also, I'm going to hold off on posting links this week until the chips fall.  Once I know where the pieces are on the table, I'll post everything on here.

I would like to talk about Objectivity vs Sentimentality. 

I received the worst gift today. A flag, at least it was a flag, shoved in an envelope. It was sun faded, stained, the threads were unraveling and the windward edges were tattered. What's worse, somebody vandalized it with a marker! This object is barely able to do it's job anymore, that job being representing the concept of a country, a collection of arbitrary lines on a map somewhere. All that is objectively true, but this is not an object. This is a symbol.

I received the most beautiful gift today. An item with a story.  A history. With meaning.

I am told this flag flew over a defensive point in Kharkyiv. It told everyone that this is Ukraine. Not in an abstract lines on a map way but in a very real "everything within 300 yards of here with a direct line of sight is Ukraine and it will stay that way."

Scars are the truest marks of experience as they cannot be faked. This flag bears many as do those who served under it. Like the resistance this flag was there from the beginning. Its beaten, it's wearly but it is still a flag.

In a way this flag represents Ukraine far better than some brightly coloured amazon flag with square creases.

The vandalism,  a message from the soldiers who manned that post, thanking me for my support and signing their names below. I cannot read the names as I do not even understand the alphabet they are written in, but I recognize that they are real people. for but a fleeting moment my names were on their lips and theirs on mine. A connection across this great distance. I can only hope that scribbling my name upon this flag gave them the feeling that somewhere across the world a real person had their back.

They said thank you to me, but I will not say you're welcome.

Ви були того варті

This flag is too damaged to be flown, to damaged to even be pinned to a wall so it will be placed in a frame and hung on the wall of my office. It will see the sun once more, I will fly this flag on V day.

Somebody mailed me a crappy old flag today, and it is the most valuable thing I have.

There were a few other items in the envelope. Some post cards, a Ukrainian flag morale patch and this:

We all remember Anna, our young friend from Bakhmut?

Somehow, these beautiful sea jellies found their way over here and will live out their days framed above my kitchen table next to my stained glass octopus.

Truly an embarrassment of riches for which I cannot thank you enough.

AClockworkGarage said:

Truly an embarrassment of riches for which I cannot thank you enough.

Ви були того варті

I honestly didn't know all that was included in the box, but I did know they were going to a deserving home.

It's Monday!  (and I am pulling my hair out in frustration, but not with anything happening in our table).

Here goes:

Ok, Kisgorbo is scheduled to transfer next Monday and we're tracking pretty good there.

GoFundMe is on pause until the 1st of November.  It will be for Christmas presents for our 62 children

Baby Clothes, etc is still waiting on a new freight forwarder.  I thought I had a pretty good backup, but the person found a position stateside JUST as our current guys were leaving.  I couldnt believe it.  Cards are in play though, and if we play them right then we may very well end up with a more permanent solution.  Fingers, toes, and eyes are all crossed that this works out.

Hospitallers/Rebeka:  Ok bad news on the Hospitallers front.  I've lost contact with the rep I've been using this whole time.  It's not uncommon for this to happen every once in a while, but this has gone on longer than it usually does.  Furthermore, I can see that messages aren't being received by his phone.  EVEN WORSE, my backup contact in Poland hasn't responded yet either.

This one kind of hurts.  It took me a while, and a lot of good faith, to set up those contacts and to have them both drop offline at once...  oof.

And stuffie delivery:  Still have one box!  I'm really hoping we can get that channel open again before Christmas.  More crossing of fingers, etc.

Ok.  RE:  Hair pulling

So the hospitallers thing is frustrating. But then there's also the Rebeka thing.  First is, because of that darn PO box I set up to try to give her an easy way to receive donations.  EVERY SHOT I've fired at it, gets returned!  (but somehow all my bills arrive to it unbothered.  and before you ask, we had the same question "are boxes not allowed or something?".  The answer is they 100% allow boxes and also don't know why nothing is making it through)

My brother sent a package to the PO box to try again (I seriously told him to just send an empty beer can) and his package has been sitting in customs since last week!!  Today I send customs an e-mail (because they should really know me by first name now) with the tracking number and a nice note asking if there was anything I needed to submit to get the box through.

Their response?  "Mr. Hungary.  If something is needed, we will contact you"

Except no they wont.  My Aunt sent us a $200 box of hand made blankets she knitted for the children and they sat in customs for WEEKS before being returned to her.  This is REALLY driving me crazy as it shouldn't be that hard...  (drat!)

Second thing with Rebeka is the fact that I got word that she and the soldiers need food.  She is SUPER busy and I'm trying very hard not to bug her, but I asked if she could quickly confirm that the rations I had in mind to send her were good to go.  She's seen the message and hasn't responded.  I don't want to keep pestering, but I DO have people waiting for a fundraiser and I keep promising "tomorrow" or "soon" and eventually they're going to move on.

I asked a mutual friend (from the Kyiv independent) for help with the confirmation, and he's gone silent as well...  (drat and double drat!)

And then there's the fundraiser.  I got it all written up, pictures and all, COMPLETELY forgetting that GFM does not allow this EXACT sort of fundraiser (funds for soldiers).

Drat, double drat, and triple drat!!!

Paypal via my Yahoo account will be an option to start and share an official fundraiser, it's just that this all came during a week I took off of work to get caught up and somehow accomplished "not much at all"

RockAuto though, delivered.  Ordered on Tuesday of last week, I now have the new coolant hose and a CSF 3-row radiator in the cab of the truck!  I also sent them picture of the 4-Runner with a story to their "magnet idea" e-mail address. 

Good times

Quick PS
Ira's books never made it, so I wasn't ever able to cross the border to bring them back.  All that is on hold as well as she works her resources to get them as close as she can.  When that failed, it hatched the idea to gather more supplies for Hospitallers/Rebeka, which is how we got all of the above.  I think I forgot to mention that the first time.  Hope it all makes sense, ask questions if it doesnt please.