9/1 to 9/30 TACMED UKRAINE SUPPORT PROJECT

VM4U volunteers have been working to set up an organization called TacMed Ukraine (TMU) around Simon and his team of international volunteer medics serving and saving lives in the hot areas in Ukraine. Artem, lawyer in Vienna, working with Sasha, another lawyer in Kyiv, and Victor, Simon’s right-hand man, have completed the registration – TMU is now a non-profit organization registered in Ukraine. Artem, Sasha, Victor, and Julia have opened the bank account. Toby has set up the TMU email and web domain. Israel, Oleg, and Toby have nearly completed the TMU website. Pippa has setup TMU’s social media accounts. The creation of the organization was necessary to facilitate the donation of the ambulance from First Aid First Hand (FAFH) to TMU – the ambulance ownership was officially transferred to TMU on 9/22. TMU has received their first donation from Europe in their Ukrainian bank account. The news media referred by JoDee and Marian has/will interview Simon and hopefully jump start TMU donations by providing international visibility and transparency.

9/1 to 9/30 FIRST AID FIRST HAND (FAFH) AMBULANCE PROJECT UPDATE

The 2008 Mercedes Sprinter 413 cdi ambulance raised by FAFH was delivered to the TacMed Ukraine organization in Kramatorsk on 9/28 by Thomas, Michael, Adam, and Markus (FAFH). Medical supplies raised by VM4U (with procurement support from YOUkraine) were delivered to TacMed Ukraine with the ambulance. A LifePak12 patient monitor is still needed for the ambulance with procurement underway. The TacMed Ukraine team anticipates that the ambulance will be used primarily for the long distance transport of patients in critical condition. Two news media outlets, DW and Puls24, covered the ambulance delivery; these reports are expected to air in the coming weeks. The ambulance is named Dymytro in honor of Dima, Ukrainian medic from Kharkiv. VM4U donations were used to purchase medical supplies, diesel, tolls, mechanical equipment for the ambulance, and driver accommodations during delivery.

9/1 to 9/30 PSYCHOLOGICAL SUPPORT PROGRAM UPDATE

Roxy, VM4U Psychological Supporting Program Manager, and her Team, Inga, Alexandra, and Nataliya, continue supporting refugees here in Vienna. No further details are provided for privacy reasons.

9/1 to 9/30 MUSIC PROGRAM UPDATE

Nadiia, Music Program Manager and Instructor, is working to return refugee children to their music training. The program has 5 instructors for 10 children: Joel (Saxophone), Emin (Piano), Mariam (Piano), Nadiia (Violin), Svetlana (Guitar). The program needs a keyboard and guitar teacher. The music program is a partnership with Kimu Wien (@kimu_wien), Liberty Education, and Domivka. VM4U donations are used for instrument maintenance, instrument rental, and instruction materials.

9/1 to 9/30 FURNISHINGS PROGRAM UPDATE

Nathan, Furnishings Program Manager, continues to work with Olga, The Feel Good Store, to transfer furniture and appliances directly from donors to refugees on a regular basis using the VM4U van and Nathan’s van. The furnishings team includes Pasha, Artem, Arkady, Anatolii, Jake, both Coach Oleksandrs, Adam, and others. VM4U donations are used for van fuel.

9/1 to 9/30 VAN PROGRAM UPDATE

Nathan, VM4U Van Program Manager, has organized furniture deliveries, refugee support missions, regular donation pick-up and delivery for The Feel Good Store, support of the Ukrainian art community (which works to raise donations through the sale of Ukrainian art), support for Kleine Herzen, YOUkraine, UAID-DIRECT, and other aid organizations. VM4U donations are used for van fuel and maintenance.

9/1 to 9/8, 9/29 DIMA SUPPORT CASE

Dima unfortunately had his dialysis catheter unsuccessfully installed on 9/1. Dima had to undergo additional surgery on 9/7 to get this corrected. Oleg and David, Co-Case Managers, along with Ella, translator and advocate, have been supporting Dima at the hospital frequently this month. Dima will need a future surgery in October to reinstall his dialysis catheter once more.

9/1 SERGII SUPPORT CASE

Adam relocated a family of three using the VM4U van from an old apartment to a new apartment. Sergji just arrived 3 days prior to rejoin his wife and little girl, Polina, who came last year from Bucha. Polina was a serious helper and probably could have loaded the whole van by herself. There was an extra stuffed blue whale toy that has been living in the van which may have found its way into Polina’s improvised luggage. VM4U donations were used for fuel.

9/4, 9/11, 9/18, 9/25 FOOTBALL PROGRAM TRAINING

Coach Oleksandr, Football Program Manager, and Coach Sergii continue to host football training for children ages 6-11 on Monday nights from 17:30-19:00 at the outdoor fields at Sport Center Donau City in cooperation with Domivka. Roxy, Psychological Support Program Manager, continues to bring snacks to the kids after each session which has become tradition. Field costs of €50/session were sponsored by Yvonne and John.

9/7 MEETING WITH UKRAINIAN SPECIAL NEEDS COMMUNITY

Iryna represents the community of Ukrainian children with special needs and their caretakers currently living in Vienna. A VM4U management team including Adam, Executive Director; Roxy, Psychological Support Program Manager; Inga, Psychological Councilor; and Gebhard, Integration Program Manager; met with Iryna. Iryna’s community needs a Ukrainian speaking doctor who can legally work in Austria which can return special needs Ukrainian children in Vienna back to their development programs. Pascal, Director of the Burgenland Orphanage, has also expressed a similar need. Iryna herself has two children with special needs and expressed her concern that he youngest child was falling far behind in his development relative to her older child with special needs who went through a structured program in Ukraine. The Vienna international community includes many families who have relocated to Vienna with special needs children and thus VM4U is able to support Iryna though the Vienna International Communities contacts, experience, and resources. VM4U has also offered to assist Iryna in setting up a Vereine (Austrian non-profit organization), if her community choses to go that direction.

9/7 VAN MISSION – UNLIMITED DEMOCRACY SUPPORT

The Unlimited Democracy organization organizes anti-war protests in Vienna. Nathan and Adam, drivers, transported a stage to/from Stephansplatz to support a fundraising concert event. This came as a last minute request and was a big help for the unlimited democracy team. VM4U donations were used for fuel.

9/7 SVETLANA SUPPORT CASE

At the request of Anna from Hostel Hutteldorf, Adam relocated Svetlana (67 year old with limited vision) and her personal belongings using Michael’s personal vehicle from Hostel Hutteldorf (refugee center and dormitory operated by Volkshilfe) to a group home in Poysdorf, about one hour outside Vienna. VM4U donations were used for car fuel.

9/7 OLEKSANDR SUPPORT CASE

At the request of Anna from Hostel Hutteldorf, Adam relocated Oleksandr (elderly) and his personal belongings using Michael’s personal vehicle from Hostel Hutteldorf (refugee center and dormitory operated by Volkshilfe) to Haus Amadou (dormitory operated by Caritas). VM4U donations were used for car fuel.

9/8 IGOR SUPPORT CASE UPDATE

Igor is a blind refugee, currently staying at Haus Winkelackerweg (dormitory operated by Samariterbund) who VM4U has been supporting since April 2023. Igor has recently been joined by his brother who was permitted to leave Ukraine as the caretaker of Igor.

9/9 OLENA SUPPORT CASE

Olena, a refugee staying at Haus Erdberg (dormitory operated by Red Cross), sprained her ankle and contacted VM4U requesting crutches. Barry delivered the crutches donated by Diego thanks to coordination by Irina, VM4U Refugee Welfare Program Manager and Helpline Operator.

9/12 NATALIIA SUPPORT CASE

Jake, volunteer driver, transported Nataliia and her husband (wheel chair) in his personal vehicle from Haus Winkeläckerweg (dormitory operated by Samariterbund) to his doctor’s appointment. Also thanks to Irina, VM4U Refuge Welfare Program Manager and Helpline Operator, for coordinating. Jake covered the cost of the transport.

9/16 MEETING WITH ANCOP/COUPLES FOR CHRIST

Answering the Cry of the Poor (ANCOP) and Couples for Christ are global Catholic charities originating from the Philippines. VM4U received representatives from ANCOP and Couples for Christ at LH138. The representatives inspected the FAFH Ambulance Project and VM4U Van loaded with furniture as well as spoke with Dima, Katya, Kamila, and Kamil, two of VM4U’s medical support cases. During which time ANCOP/Couples for Christ presented VM4U with a big check! A big thanks to Vins, VM4U Vice Treasurer, for this fundraising effort.

9/19 HOSTEL HUTTELDORF SUPPORT CASE

At the request of Anya at Hostel Hütteldorf, Adam, volunteer driver, relocated Malgo (wheel chair), her mother Ellieka, one dog, one cat (from Zaporizhzhia), and their personal belongings using the VM4U van from Hostel Hütteldorf (refugee center operated by Volkshilfe) to Haus Margareten (dormitory operated by Haus zum Leben). VM4U donations

9/21 TANYA SUPPORT CASE

VM4U donations were used to purchase urgently needed medication for Tanya, a refugee staying at Hotel de France (dormitory operated by Samariterbund), who has upcoming surgery.

9/22 to 10/1 FAFH-VM4U AMBULANCE MISSION

The FAFH Ambulance, driven by Markus (FAFH) and Thomas, followed by a Toyota Land Cruiser full of medical supplies, driven by Michael and Adam, departed Vienna on 9/22 and returned on 10/1. After some coordination delays, the ambulance and medical supplies were delivered to TacMed Ukraine medics in Kramatorsk, Ukraine on 9/28. VM4U donations were used for fuel, tolls, vignettes, and driver accommodation.

9/25 HOSTEL HUTTELDORF SUPPORT CASE

David, driver and translator, transported Svetlana (cancer patient undergoing chemotherapy) from Hostel Hutteldof (refugee center and dormitory operated by Volkshilfe) to and from an accommodations interview at Hotel de France (dormitory operated by Samariterbund) and translated for her during the interview. VM4U donations were used to cover the cost of the share car.

9/25 VAN MISSION – KLEINE HERZEN SUPPORT

Nathan, driver, picked up 3.5 pallets of size 3 diapers from Pascal, Kleine Herzen, at the Burgenland orphanage and restaged them at LH138 for transport to Ukraine on 9/28. VM4U donations were used for fuel.

9/28 VAN MISSION – LVIV

A VM4U van team, Keith and Jean, driving the VM4U van, transported donations from Vienna to Lviv Ukraine. The cargo included diapers for Kleine Herzen, power tools for YOUkraine/Hilte Austria, insulin for Oleg, food for Tanya Maier, and many private care packages. The power tools and most of the diapers were delivered to the YOUkraine warehouse while the insulin, food, and care packages were distributed by Nova Poshta (post). Some of the diapers were sent to an aid collection/distribution center in Zaporizhzhia coordinated by Lauren from UAID-Direct. VM4U donations were used for fuel, tolls, driver accommodation, and shipping costs (excluding shipping costs of private care packages).