Following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia on February 24, 2022, my seven-year-old daughter Lily asked what we could do to help those suffering in Ukraine. Eventually, we came up with a crazy idea. Why not send an ambulance full of supplies to Ukraine? But how? Could we get an ambulance? Could we get supplies? Do the Ukrainians even need it? With those questions in mind, we set out to try and do something to help those in need in Ukraine.
On the evening of March 7, 2022, the first call was made to the Ukrainian Consulate in Chicago. I left a message introducing myself and asking if they would be interested in a used ambulance from the U.S. filled with medical supplies. At about 10 p.m. that evening my phone rang; it was the Consulate in Chicago – and yes, they wanted my ambulance and they wanted the supplies. They only asked one question: “How soon could I have them in Ukraine?” It was at that point that I realized I had just committed myself to sending an ambulance (that I didn’t have) full of supplies (that I didn’t have) halfway around the world on a ship or plane (that didn’t have).
The next morning, I made a phone call to AMT of Central Illinois. I started the call by admitting that I was about to ask something that was crazy: “Could AMT of Central Illinois give me an ambulance that I could then send to Ukraine to replace those being destroyed by the invading Russians?” While I braced for “No” or “let me think about it,” the answer I got blew me away. The only response given to me was: “What do you need, gas or diesel?” And from that amazing moment of generosity, we have now delivered 18 ambulances to Ukraine and expect to have nine more and one fire engine delivered by the end of December.
These ambulances have been delivered via aircraft and ship through the generous donations of others from all over America. (We figured out how to send them overseas, but that I will save for another article). Once in Europe, we either drive them into Ukraine ourselves or work with the Ukrainian government to have them brought across the border.
What started as a crazy idea in response to my daughter’s question has now evolved into U.S. Ambulances for Ukraine, a small group of people working to find used ambulances in the United States, fill them full of supplies and then send them to hospitals, NGOs, military units, and fire departments in Ukraine where they can be used to save lives. Ambulance providers, fire departments and health systems from across the Unites States have donated ambulances, supplies, and medical equipment to this effort which has seen ambulances donated from nine states.
On two occasions I have had the honor to lead convoys of these U.S. ambulances into Ukraine and the reaction is always the same. The people of Ukraine are grateful and somewhat shocked that Americans would be so kind as to send these lifesaving vehicles. After having the pleasure to work with so many ambulance providers and other first responders over the past nine months on this project — and asking for help with my crazy idea — kindness is one of the first words that comes to mind.
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