Backpacks.
Tis the season for building some backpacks for Ukrainian military personnel on the front lines of this Russian invasion.
October 19 kicks off Phase 3 of fundraising to help in supporting those who are in support. At RU4Children we have classified our mission into “Phases” in order to conform to our mission and steward finances accordingly.
Phase 1 ‘Get the girls out’ allowed us to evacuate hundreds of my friends, women and children, from the Eastern front of the war into safe homes all over Europe.
Phase 2 ‘Prepare my men’ was getting all my young men, former orphan boys, situated and in a place where they could thrive during this time whether it’s through business, through service, or through the military.
Now the hook!!
Phase 3 ‘Winter Warriors’
Ukrainian winters are not like winters here in the US. Winters in Ukraine are brutal, take my advice it’s tough on the soul.
At the end of August, I visited with soldiers who had been on the frontline for 6 months. They were weary and tired but willing to ask me what their greatest needs are and how we could help. Every soldier answered that they needed military-grade backpacks especially as they move into the winter. Currently, they are carrying small, poorly made backpacks purchased at local markets and some of them were children’s backpacks.
As many of you may know I am a Marine veteran and I know how war well enough to know that having your personal things and a weeks worth of supplies to keep you fed and fighting is worth it weight in gold. Together we decided that a 40L military-style pack would be a huge blessing to these men and women.
Nonprofits generally won’t touch this type of project. That is not the case with RU4Children we see that there’s a great cost being paid by the Ukrainian military and Ukrainian community. The love and care they receive today will be a great benefit to the future of Ukraine and the families who will call it home again one day.
My idea is to build 5000 40L backpacks full of helpful and needed items to keep them encouraged through the winter.
Follow the link below and make a donation based on how many backpacks you would like to be responsible for:
