Back to School in Dnipro!

Back to School in Ukraine!

Everyone, the fighting hasn't ended and neither have our efforts. Together, we're going to help ALL of our Ukrainian children currently taking refuge in Dnipro get ready for their new school year!

Since the invasion started, we've been resolute in our determination to take care of the children who've been forced to flee from the fighting in Ukraine. Last December we were able to deliver the entire holiday of Christmas to our children, and in April we did it again for Easter. You can see the results of those trips via the links and the video below (be sure to read the updates in the fundraiser!)

https://youtu.be/YpnCfpnQXNA

Easter Run to Dnipro (Be sure to read the updates)

https://www.gofundme.com/f/bring-easter-to-the-children-of-ukraine

In previous years we've worked dilligently to make sure our children had everything they needed to start the school year off right. This year we're going to take our time and see if we can't do things a little better this time. Instead of "books and backpacks", we're going to bring the children the things they need to do what they love the most.

As a lot of you know, we've made multiple trips into Ukraine since the invasion and the children we're caring for now number nearly 60! More importantly though, those children understand that they can count on us. They know we're coming back, and we absolutely do not intend to disappoint.

So here goes. Our delivery of our children's hobbies begins right here. To give us the best chance of success, we’re starting this fundraiser early so be sure to tell all your friends! Sharing is absolutely free, and is the best way to get as many eyes on this as possible (and we’ll need all the help we can get!).

Ok, so why Dnipro?

Dnipro's central location, with regards to the crescent of fighting that surrounds it, makes it a prime location for families to seek refuge. It also makes it a prime target for Russian terror strikes. Many have hit already, some while we were still in the area! So many, in fact that our children are reporting that they live without electricity for 10 to 12 hours every day!

To state this another way, the below apartment building is walking distance from where our children's hospital supplies are normally delivered:

How does it all work?

School in Ukraine starts at the end of August this year. We plan on having this fundraiser open for donations from now until Sunday, the 1st of September . At the closure of the donations, we will use 100% of the collected funds to purchase the following items:

1) Anything. And I mean ANYTHING our children say they need to do whatever it is they like to do. Basketball, draw, paint, play video games? It all goes in the truck. We've reached out to them individually and have started our list.

2) Chocolates, stuffed animals, and anything to compliment the above. The sky is the limit on this one.

In the event that we are fortunate enough to collect funds in excess of what is needed to satisfy the two points above, then we will use the extra money to donate any extra cash to the children's orphanage for those with special needs in the area (exact location to be named after our safe return). They currently house about 70 people from the ages of 4 to 40 and any help we could send would be an absolute godsend. Nothing collected here will go to anything else. Things like fuel, food, vehicle maintenance, admin expenses... They are our contribution to this drive, and one that we are proud we can make. 100% of what you donate goes to the children of the Dnipro or the Orphanage that you're donating it to.

From there, we load everything we were able to purchase in the back of our Toyota and drive it straight to the door of the people who receive it.

During the collection and after the delivery we will make MANY updates to this GoFundMe so please be sure you check in periodically so you can see the amazing work you are doing. If you'd like to follow along on other social media platforms then you can do so here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dniproexpress/

We have a Facebook page for the truck here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/510575651154518

And now we even have a website at Https://DniproExpress.com It's a bit rough yet, but we're learning.

But the best format we've found to clearly convey the story is still the "Grassroots Motorsports" magazine forum where this all started. Feel free to read it in part, or in its entirety, here: https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/off-topic-discussion/ukraine-refugee-assistance/192402/page1/

(See pages 6, 12, 20, 21, 25-27, 35-37, 46-48, 63-66, 74-76, 83-85 for trip reports)

And I know we have a lot of repeat donors on here and I want you to take a second to reflect back on some of the great success we’ve started these efforts:

Easter in Dnipro 2: https://www.gofundme.com/f/bring-easter-to-the-children-of-ukraine

Christmas in Dnipro 2, December 2023: https://www.gofundme.com/f/bring-christmas-to-ukraine

School Supplies to Dnipro 2, August 2023 https://www.gofundme.com/f/school-run-to-dnipro\

Easter in Dnipro, April 2023: https://gofund.me/da7af4ea

Christmas In Dnipro, December 2022: https://gofund.me/eeae7f7a

Christmas in Dnipro Slideshow: https://youtu.be/4nalj6erILI

School Supplies to Dnipro, August 2022: https://gofund.me/1a1f73fb

School Supplies to Dnipro Slideshow: https://youtu.be/QM4GtlSYj_s

A few things to note before we go:

1) The dollar amount listed as the "goal" for this campaign is completely arbitrary. We're driving to Dnipro with anything and everything we collect. There is no way we're promising a delivery to those children and then disappointing.

2) We do not sell anything and do not profit from any of the links you see posted here. You can click without fear of spam, sale attempts, or subscription notifications.

3) We do not take pictures of the people receiving aid, as we believe they deserve their dignity and their privacy. All pictures of children that you see (or will see) were sent to us by their respective mothers and were shared with their permission.

4) The orphanage in Dnipro will not be named until after the delivery is completed. Western supply lines are targets for the Russian military, and we do not want to put the children at any more risk.

5) We do not take pictures of anything involving the Ukrainian military and do our best to keep things like departure times and route info intentionally vague. This is for their safety.

So raise a glass, because here we go. Here's to the uncrushable spirit of the Ukrainian people. Here's to getting help to some children who deserve so much more.

Here's to helping the people of Ukraine find the peace they deserve.

And always, to any Ukrainians or to anyone reading this from inside Ukraine: The world is still with you. Stay strong. Help is coming.