Update #1: We've started gathering supplies
12 May 2022
Thanks so much everyone for your support so far!
Alina just sent me this update, along with a photo (included) of the gear she and her brother have gathered so far. Every item has been directly requested by the defenders of Odesa – it all has a specific purpose and she's making sure the money isn't used for anything extraneous.
Here's her update:
"One of the volunteers gave us contact of one guy from the battalion. We started to chat with him to be more clear what they really need. Apparently their lifestyle now it's 4 days in the field watching/spying Russians and two days off. So they need these 4 days to be more comfortable since the conditions are very demanding. Even though they don't want to beg, they really appreciate what we are doing.
"I feel so so sorry for them. Some of them didn't see families from the beginning of the war, and he said that when they start their guard they are afraid always it's their last one. I want to help them so much!!! So we found already things hiking equipment for them seems answering their needs. I will try to send you today screenshots of online shops what we found.
"I don't know how to motivate people to donate. They are more active for refugees donation but for the guys they are a bit slow. Even though if we don't help them the amount of refugees will keep growing and the longer the war the longer refugees won't be able to come back home. Ufff, this situation really makes me so desperate."