Collect 4 Ukraine
A group of people is running around dozens of boxes, piles of diapers, packs of gauze and second-hand sleeping bags. Questions and decisions echo in the air of Radion’s warehouse-like room: “would this sweater be good for an 80-year-old babushka?”, “I need all the newborn items for our mom-to-be!”, “Put aside all the grey and black t-shirts!”. Why only grey and black? Because you need to wear dark colours while fighting in a war. These t-shirts will be transported to one of the units of the Ukrainian Military Defence, together with balaclavas, tourniquets and other military and medical supplies.
This is what every Wednesday night looks like for a collective that came together right after Russia brutally attacked Ukraine. A few young people met serendipitously during an anti-war demonstration on the Dam Square and decided to act together. And act they did: from organising weekly collections, supporting refugee families in various locations in the Netherlands, to throwing events to raise money and buy military supplies for the Ukrainian army.
Acting together is healing. So is crying together and being present for each other’s emotions. The collective has a direct Ukrainian connection: Anna, a Polish-Ukrainian whose family and heart are scattered between Rivne and Kyiv. While some of her close relatives, like granny Nadya and 15 years old brothers, left their place of hiding after the Russian missiles hit nearby their summer house and became refugees in Poland, many of her dear ones decided to stay. To fight on the front, like her uncle Sasha or to volunteer and organise help, like her sister Alisa who is in Kyiv right now, or to take care of their animals like grannies Anya and Zoya. Despite the horrific circumstances, Anna’s family stays strong and focused on doing everything to help Ukraine fight against the invaders – they collaborate with Collect4Ukraine, collect money, buy tactical supplies and, crucially, thanks to their network in Ukraine they make sure everything reaches its intended destination.
Our first collection, although spontaneous and indeed the primary and foundational for our organisation and friendship, turned out to be a tremendous success. Announced through our private social media channels and at the University of Amsterdam where Yulia, Maria, and Anna work, it echoed widely in our Amsterdam community. The collection was organised mostly at Jan’s apartment. How was he able to sleep there, we do not know up to this day – every centimetre was occupied by your donations! Sleeping bags, bandages, food, diapers, power banks, shoes, hygiene products and, thanks to the money collected, tactical supplies (e.g. tactical gloves, knee pads, vests and high-class night vision goggles) -- all of these were sent with our first transport! And that is the point when we met Bram, or should we say Brambo (that is the name of his transport company and a good reflection of who he is to us – a real-life Rambo, ups, Brambo!) Bram trusted us, and after filling his big van with the donations, he set off to Warsaw, to Anna’s parents’ apartment. That is where the humanitarian aid was reorganised and further sent to Ukraine! A part of your donations was sent to Lviv, to Yulia’s friend, and another part – to Rivne. How? Anna’s cousin from Rivne decided to take care of that herself, together with a driver, she took a big van and... came straight to Warsaw to pick up the supplies and transport them safely to Rivne! Your first donations reached their destination in Rivne on 14.03, and in Lviv on 09.03, making the lives of many people easier for some time!
From then on every Wednesday the group attracted more volunteers and more acts of kindness. An Iranian lady donated a dozen boxes filled with needed items, explaining that she used to live in a refugee camp, so she simply had to do something. A young mother mobilised her network and prepared bags of clothes and baby items. A blind grandma donated 80 hand-knitted scarves and beanies. A Dutch ex-soldier donated all of his tactical military clothes, medicines and other supplies, among them two bulletproof helmets. These helmets now protect Rostik, a friend of Yulia who fights in a territorial defence unit, and Anna’s uncle Sasha, who is currently in the army and fights on the eastern front.
The Russian war on Ukraine has been going on for more than two months. The scale of brutality towards civilians, including children, has shocked and traumatised all of us. Yet, as humans, we tend to adapt to any kind of situation, and we slowly get used to the most barbaric headlines. But we can’t stop helping and acting. Ukrainian people need us now and will need us for years to come. So Collect4Ukraine will keep on organising collections and fundraisers to support those in need. With your help, they will keep on helping. It doesn’t take much, every small act counts. Buy a few packs of diapers or baby food while grocery shopping, donate your coffee money, buy an artwork from a fundraiser, mobilise your colleagues to collect medical supplies, and share information on your social media. Helping can help you, that’s the beauty of togetherness.
Ukraine became a symbol of bravery, freedom and solidarity. Let’s all be Ukraine now.
Contact us: collect4ukraine(at)gmail.com
Follow us on Instagram: @collect4ukraine