While many charity organisations focus on helping refugees who come to Poland, the Open Dialogue Foundation also takes care of the safety of those who have decided to stay in their war-torn homeland. The first shipment of 210 helmets and 70 bulletproof vests, intended mainly for the defenders of Lviv and Kyiv, has just been sent. – The equipment we bought will go to soldiers of the Territorial Defence Force, as well as civil defence and journalists at the front,” said Marcin Mycielski of the Open Dialogue Foundation in an interview with Onet.
● Apart from helping refugees, at the moment our organisation is also focusing on humanitarian aid in the form of life preserving equipment. With the funds donated by our donors, we buy bulletproof vests and helmets, as well as first aid items,” said Marcin Mycielski of the Open Dialogue Foundation in an interview with Onet.
● The first shipment has just left for Lviv. Ukrainians there will receive 210 helmets and 70 bulletproof vests. The fundraising for more supplies is ongoing.
Over 200 thousand refugees have crossed the Polish-Ukrainian border crossings in recent days. Aid organisations are doing everything to provide them with the best possible care. The Open Dialogue Foundation, in turn, is focusing its activities on protecting those who have remained in Ukraine. Although the Ukrainians had their weapons ready, during the clashes with the Russians they lacked equipment that would protect them from bullets, such as special bulletproof vests and helmets.
Within just a few days of the Russian aggression against Ukraine, the organisation had already raised the necessary funds to send the first shipment, which included: 210 ballistic helmets and 70 IV class bulletproof vests.
The need for these products is evidenced by the fact that it is no longer possible to buy such bulletproof vests in Poland. The Foundation declares, however, that it has already found further sources of supply, also abroad.
Helmets and bulletproof vests, which are sent by the Foundation to the territory of Ukraine, will go, among others, to soldiers of territorial defence, as well as civil defence.
We receive letters from fighters from all corners of Ukraine. Sometimes these are private individuals, and sometimes organisations such as the Kyiv veterans’ association “Come Back Alive”, which started its activity back in the time of the Maidan (Euromaidan). These people know that this is what we do and they will take care of the distribution on the spot.
We also supply the necessary equipment to journalists who go to the front, both from Poland and Ukraine, as well as from other countries, recently, for example, from Italy – added Marcin Mycielski.
How can you help the Open Dialogue Foundation? The organisation is raising money to buy necessary and certified equipment, and then transport it to those in need in Ukraine.
Alternatively, it is possible to donate equipment that may be useful at the frontline to the Open Dialogue Foundation, such as helmets or night vision devices (but modern ones only). Representatives of the organisation ask for direct contact on this matter. You can also support the activities of the foundation directly through a special page or become its permanent sponsor on Patronite service.
More information about the activities of the Open Dialogue Foundation can be found on the official website and social media (Facebook and Twitter).
The #SupportUkraine collection can be found here.
Source: onet.pl
