We Need Your Help to Transport Ukrainian Refugees to Safety

We're fundraising to help transport and feed some of the two million Ukrainian refugees who've fled their homes and come to the Polish border with nothing more than a suitcase. We've been organizing 50-person buses from the border to Warsaw, and Warsaw to other points in Europe, and we need your help to meet the growing need!

Refugee centers and railway stations are overflowing, and there is a shortage of places in Poland where refugees can stay for extended periods of time. To take the strain off of local and state authorities, Polish citizens have mobilized to do whatever we can to help our neighbors. It's inspiring, and unlike anything we've seen before.

Since the war began, we—Robert Jandura-Cessna and Malgorzata Czaplicka of Poland—knew we wanted to help. At first, we decided to drive our own car to the border of Poland and Ukraine, and from there made the four-hour drive to Warsaw multiple times to transport up to three people at once.

For our first trip, we picked up a mother and two children, with the goal of getting them to their Grandfather in Cologne, Germany. The experience was so impactful that we decided it would be more efficient to charter 50-person buses, instead of only being able to transport 3 or 4 individuals in our car.

We need your help in expanding our efforts to bring as many Ukrainian refugees to safety. Please consider donating if you can!

If you're interested in learning more, here's Robert's description of their first trip to the border:

Today was a day that I honestly will never forget. Malgosia and I met Liza, Max, and their Mother at a sorting facility by the Ukrainian/Polish border. They had been staying at the pop-up facility for about 36 hours amongst hundreds of other Ukrainians that had crossed the border into Poland on foot.

We drove our little group to our apartment in Warsaw, Poland. A four-hour drive with strangers. Strangers, who are now our friends. Eight-year-old Liza and I had a long conversation today. She energetically told me stories of her life in Ukraine, her hobbies, pets, etc. Or at least that's how I imagined it, as I don't speak either Russian or Ukrainian. I didn't understand a word she said, yet it was one of the best conversations that I've ever had. I hope she enjoyed it as well.

We ended the evening by teaching the kids to play Beethoven's Ode to Joy on the piano. They picked it up quickly. Tomorrow morning, they leave for Germany to start a new chapter of their life.

---- Update ----

Yesterday, we managed to organize accommodation in Hanover and transport for 51 people who fled the war in Ukraine.

This is all thanks to the determination and commitment of people, who dedicated their time and resources to help those in need. As you know, accommodation centers and railway stations are overflowing, and there is a shortage of places in Poland where refugees can stay for longer. Poland's authorities have more than they can handle with such a dynamic situation - so civilians are stepping in. It was this civilian initiative that resulted in finding accommodation in Germany, a bus, and two wonderful drivers within a few hours. We started yesterday at 1 p.m., the bus left the accommodation center in Warsaw at 10 p.m.

This shows how much ordinary people can do with the right amount of determination and motivation. Wow!

Special thanks to Marta Lefik (you're a legend!), Robert Jandura-Cessna, Robert Czarnecki, the volunteers, Mrs. Grazyna from Hannover, Marzena Nowak from Berlin, who gave us her contact and all the other people I've never met who forwarded our requests and needs, thanks to whom beds were freed up in Warsaw for the newcomers and 51 people today start a new chapter of their lives in a safe place!

Bravo I'm so proud of Poland!

We are not resting. They are not resting. The situation is not only dynamic - but constantly changing.

Sadly, in the wrong direction.

We've been doing what we can, to get as many individuals as we can, headed toward a safe future.

For us to be able to continue, we need your help.

Your donations will be allocated towards fuel, bus rentals, drivers, and food.

#StandwithUkraine

----UPDATE---- March 23rd

In the last two weeks we managed to carry out two projects - a food truck for Ukrainian refugees camping in Warsaw and the coordination of a 58-passenger bus from Warsaw to Madrid, organized along with Hands with Heart Foundation.

Thanks to your financial contributions, approx. 350 portions of hot meals, prepared by Robert Jandura-Cessna Alexander Lubanski Marta Lefik David Prinz-Meister Amanda Lubanska-Van Der Walt, arrived at the eastern train station in Warsaw.

Moreover, a bus of 58 refugees left to Spain yesterday! We were also responsible for providing food for the 36 hour journey (200 sandwiches, 120 portions of high-calorie cold meals, water, juices, sweets, fruits etc.), and for organizing the Spanish and Ukrainian translators, which we managed to find thanks to the help of Anastasia Filanovich and members of the Poles in Madrid group

Many thanks also to Andrea Molina - my wonderful friend from Granada, who was also remotely involved in helping us to communicate in Spanish

At Ptak Expo, I saw volunteers not only from Poland but from all over the world! I met people from Great Britain, Canada (Tracy Ox) Spain, Italy, Sweden, Germany, etc. - who came to Poland just to help refugees! Heart grows

More to come!

Thank you all for contributing financially to our fundraiser, without you nothing of the above would have been possible!