THOUGHTS FROM OUR TEAM
We are grateful to so many of our personal friends who gave generously for us to fund our relief operations in Ukraine. We are looking forward to your continued partnership in sending supplies through the supply chains we have established.
SUJO JOHN
FOUNDER, YOUCANFREEUS
“We were able to push some large amounts of supplies into Ukraine and do some incredible things, including establishing supply chains that will continue the work. Still, my most memorable moment was meeting a family who had just crossed over from Ukraine into Romania at Siret (border crossing). They had three young babies in the car, and the couple looked exhausted; they had escaped the bombings in Kyiv and had driven some 12 hours. We offered to fill up his car with fuel, and as he heard that, he broke down. At that moment, I felt so proud that I was an American sent by beautiful people like the ones reading this newsletter to bring hope to the hurting. That moment also took me to the story in the good book of a young couple who crossed into Egypt with their baby as refugees. Yes, divinity was once a refugee.”
KEITH DUNKING
BOARD MEMBER, YOUCANFREEUS
“We are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to serve, made possible only through your generous support. In a time when deception and evil run rampant, light shines brighter than ever. I was humbled by our Ukrainian and Romanian brothers and sisters’ love for each other and selfless service, and thank you again for your generosity and kindness in supporting Compassion Ukraine.”
KARI DINGLER
BOARD MEMBER, YOUCANFREEUS
“Marc and I were honoured to go serve, learn, and encourage all the amazing people we met serving Ukrainians tirelessly for such a time as this. So many all over Europe are helping the scared and desperate. We have found multiple partners on the ground doing the 24/7 work of assisting the hurting with excellence. Many courageous, selfless, kind people here. The truckloads of supplies arrived miraculously, and we hope there will be many more truckloads to
follow. Thank you for your generous support.”
CHRIS POTTER
BOARD MEMBER, YOUCANFREEUS
“At the Romania/Ukraine border, we saw so many small NGOs and individuals responding to the crisis quickly and effectively. I was most impressed by the courage, compassion, and selflessness of people from both countries. Here
are just a few examples: We spoke with a Ukrainian woman with a one-month-old baby in the heart of the war zone who spends her days feeding and evacuating people from assaulted cities; we worked with a Romanian pastor who converted his newly completed church building into a refugee centre as soon as the war broke out a month ago; we met a man who owned a successful packaging business and operated a small prison ministry. In the last four weeks, he converted his NGO into a refugee centre, increased his staff from 7 to 100 people, and is sending trucks of supplies into the hardest-hit areas of Ukraine every day. In less than a week, we made numerous meaningful connections, sent multiple truckloads of critical supplies into Ukraine, and established a distribution and supply chain for many more means of transport as they are needed in the weeks and months ahead. In Galati, at the southern border, we loaded two trucks with food and medical supplies. We also bought six emergency generators. The trucks and generators have subsequently reached Odesa and Mykolaiv, Ukraine, where they are desperately needed. Because of the speed and efficiency that this all happened, we have the confidence to use this channel for future shipments. Up north in Suceava, we worked with a group that has an established network to get
supplies to cities all over Ukraine. We are procuring 15 – 25 generators for them that they can quickly deliver to where they are needed most. At Siret, on the border, we met an Israeli group that had a truckload of supplies but no way
to get it into Ukraine. We connected them with our distribution route in the south.
Our work here has just begun, but we have done a lot in a short period. Thank you so much for supporting this important effort.”
CLARISSA DRYSDALE ANDERSON
BOARD MEMBER, YOUCANFREEUS
“I was shocked by the number of people with little more than the clothes on their backs, and greatly touched by the reaction of so many others from around the world to help them. Some refugees have contacts or relatives in the Western European countries and are heading to live with them; many others have no idea where they will go. We were able to arrange a sponsor in the UK for a Ukrainian refugee family, which guarantees them a home for at least six months, government
benefits such as language training, health care, unemployment benefits, and schooling for their children. YouCanFreeUs was able to sponsor their trip to the UK as they do not have enough money to leave the border area, and this gives them the opportunity to restart in another country. As most refugees fleeing Ukraine are women and children, they are vulnerable to exploitation and must be helped as quickly as possible by reputable organisations.”