Help Dislocated Families of Ukraine

My name is Olex. A lot of you know me personally. Those who don't, I am Ukrainian living in San Diego, but a major part of my family, including my daughter, lives in Ukraine. As well as many friends and acquaintances and their family members. 

 As unbelievable as it is, WAR came to Ukraine.

 Everyone, EVERYONE, in Ukraine is affected by this. We can't help everyone. But we can try to help as many families as we can. 

 From the city where my family lives (Odessa), most people fled to Moldova, a neighboring country. As much incredible support as Moldova provided, they have limitations. 

 There is support from all around the world, where most countries are helping Ukraine. 

 But we, as people, can help people. 

I will personally travel to Romania by air and onward to Moldova by land this week. I will try to evacuate my family: my 9-year-old daughter, her mother, her brother, both of my grandmothers, my sister-in-law, her two small children (6 months old and 3 years old), my mother-in-law. 

I don’t have a plan yet on how to do it, as the situation in the ground is very fluid. I just know I have to. 

 While I’m there, I can attempt to serve a greater purpose. 

 While I will use personal funds for my family, many of my friends have reached out for help, but there are too many in need for me to cover these needs financially. 

 There is a huge list of specific items that thousands of families need. Everyone needs something different. Some need shoes, some socks, some jackets, some vital medicine, some need food, some have no warm place to sleep, the list goes on and on. But if they had money, they could buy exactly what they need which is more effective. Plus, eliminates logistics. 

 In Moldova, one can buy everything they so desperately need. But local humanitarian efforts are limited, and they are depleting with each day and what they do have is not nearly enough to cover the needs, and the number of families in need just keeps growing. It's a humanitarian disaster that will only get worse as the war drags on or escalates. 

 People fled with what they could carry, banks had no cash, and a lot of people were not financially stable to begin with. Also, the Ukrainian currency that most had on hand has dropped x10, so even if people did bring a little money, it’s now nearly worthless compared to traditional exchange rates. 

 $1,000 - $1,500 will likely support one family for 2-3 months (depending on family size) with food, shelter, basic needs and/or provide the critical funds necessary to continue their run to other European countries where they can seek asylum. 

 PLEASE TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THAT THESE ARE ALL WOMEN AND CHILDREN. 

 MEN WERE NOT ALLOWED TO LEAVE. 

 PLEASE TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THAT IT IS CURRENTLY WINTERTIME LOCALLY AND THE TEMPERATURES ARE BELOW FREEZING. (!!!) 

 I AM GOING MYSELF BECAUSE OF MY ADVANTAGE OF BEING A US CITIZEN (ABILITY TO CROSS BORDER IN EITHER DIRECTION) 

 THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO HELP THOSE IN GREAT GREAT NEED. 

 I WILL BE PERSONALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR EVERY DOLLAR THAT IS DONATED AND WILL PROVIDE UPDATES AS THEY ARE DISTRIBUTED.

I don't know the exact numbers, but there are at least 26,000 Ukrainians that have arrived in Moldova from my city of Odessa and the surrounding area.

I am flying to Romania on 02-29-2022, from Bucharest I will make my way to the Moldova border where I have arranged for a van to be provided for my local efforts. 

 Hopefully, by the time, I get to Moldova, which is probably going to be March 3rd, there will be substantial funds available for me to start making decisions on how to use them depending on the situation at that time. 

 Intended use: 

 - Direct cash survival funds for families (For this I was thinking about having forms for families to fill out, for accountability) 

- Travel Funds (i.e train tickets, or bus tickets, motel, food) to continue their run to countries like Germany, Belgium, Netherlands or Denmark where there are large refugee programs 

- Specific and General Medications (Receipts) 

- General Warm Clothing Items (Receipts) 

- General Hygiene Items (Receipts) 

 I have arranged for a van to be provided to me for local logistics. 

Please take into account that there is a 2.5-hour drive between Chisinau (nearest major city) and Palanka, the border crossing town that is nearest to Odesa, Ukraine. 

PLEASE share this with your co-workers, family, and friends. 

PLEASE share this with as many people as you can. 

PLEASE HELP ME HELP WOMEN AND CHILDREN STRANDED IN FOREIGN LAND WITHOUT THEIR HUSBANDS, FATHERS, BROTHERS, AND UNCLES.