Humanitarian aid delivery run to Kherson families with disabilities

A little while back I have met a very upbeat and funny local volunteer named Iryna. She shared that she sponsors about 20-30 families a month by purchasing them baby items, diapers, medications, hygiene, and snacks. The families she sponsors are either large families with children, individuals with disabilities (cerebral palsy or seizures) or families with children with disabilities. 

The experience was different from standing at the pantry and handing out items to those, who can come get them themselves. We visited 10 homes in different parts of the city, some of the areas where it’s not safe to drive around to begin with. There were 3 of us – myself, Max, and Iryna who was the driver. While we stopped to briefly meet with some of the families and deliver items to their door, one or two of us was on the lookout for drones. I can’t imagine these people having to go shopping or go outside in general in districts like that. I was glad that a little bit of money and bravery was enough to lessen the burden on some of them.

One of the families shared that its able-bodied women help the military by knitting wonderfully comfortable socks as well as doing art to donate or sell to raise funds.

Another mother shared that they cannot afford epilepsy medicine for her son except for the times, when Irina helps with it. One bottle lasts them just a month, and there’s no income or ability to work to cover it.

Visiting homes of those people added a whole new layer of experience for me. It was much more personal to see the areas where they live, what their homes and families look like, to meet their children. Families that cannot go somewhere to pick up humanitarian aid get much less of it, while they need it much more than some other locals. I wish that everyone could get the help they deserve and desperately need.