On the Ground in Kosice

In my first few days here, I am getting the lay of the land, contacting many people to see how I can best help and where the money can do the most good. I’m realizing that part of the “Overwhelmingness” I referred to in yesterday’s blog is navigating the language barriers and various people and groups. Some people here speak some English (more in hotels & restaurants; less in the general population). Part of the “Overwhelmingness” is the fragmentation of relief efforts. Many groups and individuals are doing great work. The Evil of this war has generated an amazing response of Good.

Far fewer of the refugees speak English, and when they text it’s in the Cyrillic alphabet. So I get a simple message, such as: “Дякую вам дуже !! Гарного Вам дня !” It means, “Thank you very much!! Have a nice day!” Thank God for Google Translate! If I “Friend” a refugee on Facebook, I know how to say her name, but I can’t type, it in to find her in Messenger. I can say, for example, “Myroslava,” but I have to paste in “Мирослава.” BTW, a typical refugee “family” is a mom with 1-2 kids, and often the mom’s mom.

I first met with four leaders of the local Rotary Club #2240, which is coordinating a massive resupply of goods from Rotary Clubs in Europe to the Rotary Clubs throughout Ukraine. This is an effort on an enormous scale, with vans and trucks. Slovak companies (like others throughout Europe) are supplying the Rotary with reduced-price goods. More than 20,000 Euros went to the purchase of an ambulance, for example. (See photo)

I visited the Refugee Center my second day. It is right next to the bus and train stations. Until now, if I hear the word “Container” next to the word “human,” the connotation is bad (i.e., human trafficking). But here the containers are so important: They provide the housing for the refugees. Very basic, but a place to lie down and rest. (See photos) Mothers with babies have more room. “Port-a-potties” (portable bathrooms) are nearby. There are showers too. Right now the number of people coming thru is not huge. Many stay for only a night or two, then going on further west. Michaela and her volunteer staff are amazing. I was talking to a woman who came over from Prague to volunteer. And there is a group of students from Spain who are here for a few weeks.

I made some “shopping runs” to buy groceries for the communal kitchen and toiletries for a number of refugee kids. I was helped by Felix, a student from the medical school here in Kosice. Some of those students, led by Ali (orig from Baghdad, who knows war and what it’s like to be a refugee) have been doing this on a regular basis. When I first visited the refugee center, I didn’t realize this was where Ali had filmed his great video (see below), which I saw before I got here.

Some of the refugees stay in the area, and that’s where volunteer host families step up. Many take in not only the families, but their pets too! That’s why I saw so few refugee dogs when I visited the dog shelter outside of town!

I will soon post my suggestions on how you can donate and support the massive and desperately-needed efforts for Ukraine. Check out my last photo below of the lovely armed guard, one of the municipal police protecting the refugee center.

Take a few moments to watch Ali’s video with Michaela at the refugee center.