Completed Projects
2022
VM4U volunteers and Blaguss drivers departing from Bratislava for the Medyke, Poland border crossing just before midnight on 2022-11-07
Ivanka (VM4U Mission Leader) and bus passengers prior to loading at their accommodation in Gaming on 2022-07-07
VM4U volunteers and OHU volunteers (cameraman) having procured urgently requested diapers on 2022-07-02
VM4U Project Manager receiving Dima and his family as they arrive in Vienna by ambulance on 2022-06-30
OHU volunteers having received urgently requested supplies on 2022-06-21
Donated medical supplies transported to Uzhhorod City Clinic on 2022-05-24
Medicine arriving on 2022-05-02
Filip, Puszczykowo City Council Chairman, and aid workers unloading supplies at the Pusczcykowo, Poland Refugee Center on 2022-04-28
Chartered bus from Ternopil, Ukraine, arriving at the Ukraine Arrival Center in Vienna on 2022-04-14
Kogl Orphanage Supply Project
2022-12-31
An orphanage from Severodonetsk, Ukraine, 73 kids (between 7 and 20 year old) and 13 caretakers, was relocated to St. Georgen, Austria (3 hours drive west from Vienna). VM4U continuously works with the orphanage and local government to answer the orphanage’s needs. VM4U donations have been used to purchase medicine. Sporting equipment was donated by a volunteer. Clothing, shoes, and toys were raised by Vienna Family Network and The Feel Good Store. Ukrainian/Russian language children’s books were imported from Lviv. A week of sailing instruction was organized by the local government with in-field translation support from a VM4U volunteer. 5 shipments of fresh fruit and vegetable have been purchased using VM4U donations; VM4U Project Manager is working with the local government to see that a sustainable supply of fresh fruit and vegetables becomes available.
Kharkiv Hospital Generator Supply Project
2022-12-29
In response to power outages, VM4U urgently delivered an 11 kW generator to the Kharkiv Regional Psychiatric Hospital No. 3. The hospital is the only operating psychiatric hospital in the Kharkiv region and cares for 950 patients. Rotary Club Vienna Maria Theresa and VM4U split the cost of the generator which was received by the hospital on 2022-12-29. VM4U donations were used to pay for the generator and the fuel, tolls, postage, and driver lodging associated with the delivery.
Zhuravno Orphanage Generator Supply Project
2022-12-16
In response to power outages, VM4U urgently delivered two 5 kW diesel generators, oil, and 140 L of diesel to the displaced orphanage at Zhuravno, Ukraine. The supplies were delivered on 2022-12-16 by VM4U and First Aid First Hand drivers using the First Aid First Hand van. VM4U donations paid for the generators, oil, diesel for the generator and the fuel, tolls, and driver lodging associated with the delivery.
Rivne Rescue Projet
2022-11-08
A foster family from Kherson, 2 foster parents and 15 foster children, ages 7-17, was transported by VM4U from the Polish-Ukrainian border to their long-term accommodation in Mureck, Austria. VM4U volunteers supported the family during transport, managed transportation logistics, and performed a human trafficking safeguards review. The long-term care and support for this family is provided by Caritas with additional support provided by the local government. This project is performed in partnership with Stepic CEE Charity, Caritas, Save Ukraine, Styrian Provincial Government, Children’s Service of Rivne, Rivne District State Administration, and the Embassy of Ukraine in Austria. VM4U donations were used to pay for the bus charter and food for the passengers.
Gaming Bussing Project
2022-07-07
On 2022-03-27, VM4U transported 43 mothers and children from the Polish-Ukrainian border to long term accommodations in Gaming, Austria, as part of the At-Risk People Rescue Project. At the request of these people, VM4U transported 26 of the 43 mothers and children back to Ukraine on 2022-07-07. VM4U organized the logistics, buses, and volunteers for the EU side of the journey. A VM4U Mission Leader (English and Ukrainian speaker), accompanied the bus to the Medyke, Poland border crossing. At the Medyke, Poland border crossing, Ivanka and the passengers proceeded to cross the border on foot. Once in Ukraine, the passengers boarded a second bus which took the passengers to their final destination. This project was fully funded by the project requester and a €500 private donation; no VM4U donations were used for this project.
2022-07-02
The Österreich Hilft Ukraine (OHU) organization is a humanitarian aid collection and distribution center in Vienna which supports ~1000 refugee families. OHU reached out to VM4U with an urgent need of diapers, sizes 5, 6, and 7. VM4U responded by sending a team to the METRO bulk supply store here in Vienna, purchasing diapers, and delivering them to OHU.
Dima Rescue Project
2022-06-30
Dima is a civilian medic from Kharkiv and T1 diabetic. During his service, he developed extreme kidney complications. He and his family lost nearly everything and were coming close to losing Dima as well. VM4U, in collaboration with UAID-Direct and the Association for the development of Jewish Communities in Ukraine, organized the relocation of Dima and his family to Vienna as well as Dima’s long term medical care. Dima, his wife, two daughters, and their cat were transported by ambulance with an onboard doctor and arrived in Vienna on 6/30. Since then, the family has received long term accommodation and comprehensive support by VM4U volunteers, particularly in the navigation of the Austrian medical and refugee systems.
2022-06-21
The Österreich Hilft Ukraine (OHU) organization is a humanitarian aid collection and distribution center in Vienna which supports ~1000 refugee families. OHU reached out to VM4U in need of specific supplies, especially diapers. The VM4U Project Manager connected the ‘Daughters of the American Revolution organization with OHU and supplied €500 of aid.
2022-05-24
VM4U received a donation of medical grade baby food and associated feeding tubes from a private donor. Utilizing VM4U networks, a need in Ukraine was identified and the medical supplies were shipped to the Uzhhorod, Ukraine City Clinic.
2022-05-02
VM4U received a request for help from a hospital in Pokotylivka, Ukraine, a Kharkiv suburb. Working with the Pokotylivka medical team, a list of critical medicines, which are affordable and accessible in Vienna but are a question of life and death around Kharkiv, was made. The list included medications such as Metformin (high blood pressure), Insulin (diabetes), Levothyroxine (thyroid), and others. The cost of the medication was covered by St. Barbara’s Church, procured by VM4U, and transported by the YOUkraine organization. The shipment consisted of 2 x 20+ kg boxes with requested life-critical medications. The package was sent out. VM4U later received news that the same day the shipment arrived, the hospital was bombed. Several people died, and more people were buried in debris. The office of a medical team responsible for our donation was also destroyed. The only thing left was the door and a kettle. By luck, neither the medical team, nor the donation was in the office at that time. There were many incredible coincidences this day, but also tragedy. A week later the first photos of medicine distribution started to come in. Despite everything, this project became a success.
2022-04-28
Filip is city council chairman of Puszczykowo, Poland, a city of ~9000 people. He previously reached out to VM4U for help to furnish the Refugee Center that was born from necessity in their town. Filip has informed us that the population of their center has continued to rise to ~500 refugees and that further furnishings are needed. A VM4U Project Manager raised the additional supplies from their personal networks which include washing machine, clothes dryer (machine), 1 or 2 tv, electric cooker, hygiene products, school furniture, and cleaning supplies. VM4U donations were used to buy a dryer and cover delivery costs. The van was generously provided by the First Aid First Hand organization, www.firstaid-firsthand.de. These supplies were delivered on 2022-04-28.
2022-04-14
35 at-risk people without the means to evacuate without support, departed by bus from Ternopil, Ukraine on 4/13 and arrived at Ukraine Arrival Center (UAC) in Vienna, Austria on 4/14. VM4U donations covered the cost to charter the bus. VM4U volunteers, including a project manager and human trafficking safeguards officer, planned, prepared, and staffed the operation.
2022-04-09
As mainstream supply lines to refugee centers formed, situation specific supplies were not included in the initial waves of supplies. Situation specific supply shortages were discovered by VM4U van teams during their daily visits to the various refugee centers in Poland. These situation specific supply shortages initially included female specific supplies, pet supplies, and medical supplies related to the freezing temperatures. As the mainstream supply lines caught up to the needs, new situation specific supply shortages appeared, such as extended stay supplies including underwear, shampoo, soap, and basic medications, and as temperatures increased, bottled water. VM4U quickly answered the supply shortages at Polish Refugee Centers within 24 hours of the discovery of a shortage. Most supplies were sourced from material donations to St. Barbara’s Church, some supplies were raised from VM4U direct material donations, and other supplies were procured using VM4U donations. VM4U volunteers transported these supplies directly to the Polish refugee centers where they were desperately needed.
Medyke Water Supply Project
2022-03-30
Following reports of sever water shortages Medyke, Poland border crossing on 3/23, VM4U immediately began running water this location. 5 tons of bottled water were delivered by VM4U. The shortage was alleviated by cooler weather on 3/30. VM4U van teams, and Team Fynn, an independent van team from the UK, were involved in the transportation. VM4U donations were used to purchase the water.
2022-03-27
An Orphanage in Ternopil, Ukraine (~70 orphans and caregivers) reached out to VM4U with an urgent need for supplies. This group provided a list of urgently needed supplies. In partnership with a group of advocates for Ukraine associated with Texas A&M University (USA), the VM4U Project Manager made procurements of the requested items which were transported to the Ukrainian border on 3/27 using a van provided by First Hand First Aid where they met a second van sent by the orphanage. VM4U donations were used to procure supplies.
2022-03-27
On 3/26-27, 43 at-risk mothers and their children were transported from the Ukraine border to a campus in Gaming, Austria. This was achieved working closely First Aid First Hand. VM4U role was the mission leadership, logistics, supplies, and volunteers. VM4U donations were used to charter the buses and pay for supplies.
2022-03-26
On 3/25-26, 67 orphans from 3 months- 7 years old (along with 28 care givers + their 15 children) were transported from the Ukrainian border to Burgauberg-Neudauberg (Burgenland, Austria). This was achieved working closely with Kleine Herzen, the Red Cross, First Aid First Hand, Save Ukraine and the Austrian government. VM4U role was mission leadership, logistics, supplies, and volunteers. VM4U donations were used to charter the buses and pay for supplies.
2022-03-25
Filip, chairman of the city council in Puszczykowo, Poland reached out to VM4U with an urgent need of basic supplies for an improvised refugee center in their city housing 100 refugees (at that time), mostly women and children. The chairman provided a supply list which included basic appliances such as a refrigerator, 2 washing machines, 2 TV’s, 2 vacuum cleaners, and kitchen appliances and utensils in addition to clothes, school supplies, food, hygiene, baby supplies, and bicycles. A VM4U project manager tapped their personal networks and raised the estimated €7,500 of supplies privately. VM4U donations covered the cost of a 3.5 ton cargo truck rental and delivery. The supplies were delivered on 2022-03-25.
Przemysl Supply Project
2022-03-08
VM4U vans travel to the Polish-Ukrainian border on a daily basis and deliver suppliers to and bring refugees from the Polish-Ukrainian border. Based on VM4U driver reports, the Przemysl, Poland Refugee Center has urgent supply shortages of female and baby specific supplies. VM4U drivers were tasked to prioritize these items when loading the daily vans with supplies. These specific supplies are raised from donations to St. Barbara’s church and purchased by VM4U van drivers enroute to the Polish-Ukrainian border. VM4U van drivers delivered these specific supplies to the Przemysl Refugee Center on 2022-03-08.