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The preparations: first aid transport in March 2022

Kathrin

Autorin
We received around 2500 boxes and bags of donations for this first Menschenfreude aid transport. Thanks to you! And that's just great. On the farm of our cooperation partner, Christian relief organization TABEA e.V., we spent a whole Saturday sorting your donations, packing them and sending them on their way to Ukraine. In two trucks and twelve vans. Now and here: all information for you about the biggest relief action of Menschenfreude e.V. so far, which will continue as long as it is necessary.
Human Joy Relief Transport Ukraine
39 tons of relief goods were delivered – clothing, sleeping bags, warm blankets, food and hygiene products. And by the end of March, around €32,000 in financial contributions.
 
At the end of February 2022 we of Menschenfreude e.V. in in our blog called and the social media to help the people from Ukraine affected by the war. Our post and videos were shared many times. 

Our relief action in video

We ourselves are quite overwhelmed by the response. We never imagined what a great joint fundraising campaign it would become. We have captured some impressions in the video:
 

 
We were very happy about the many private donations from families, children, companies, stores, pharmacies, restaurants – from all directions of North Rhine-Westphalia and beyond. Parents who went shopping with their children especially for our campaign. Children who have sorted out their favorite toys. Organizations and companies whose employees packed donation boxes during their lunch break. And much much more. 

Much energetic help

We were also pleased with the numerous concrete offers of help. Drivers who transported helpers and supplies from A to B. Groups and associations that have provided us with their vehicles and passenger buses.
 
The Trio Marein, around Marie Luise Hartmann, Regula Sager and Ines Altmann gave a benefit concert in the evangelic Trinitatiskirche in Bonn and called for donations. We were also very happy about this.
 
What a response! We coordinated our actions via social media.
 
Among others, we would like to express our sincere thanks to:

We would love to thank each individual personally, but this would exhaust our volunteer resources. We are just overwhelmed and grateful by your and your response! 

Impressive pictures: So many helping hands. Large and small, and private initiatives! 

Sorting and packing – for the first convoy

On Saturday, March 5, 2022, and the days leading up to it, over 100 volunteers helped us pick up and sort donations. Around 2,500 boxes and bags were piled up in the yard of the Christian relief organization TABEA e.V. in Swisttal, where the storage room of Menschenfreude e.V. is also located. These were assigned to the individual vehicles.

At the end of the day, two large trucks could be fully loaded with food and hygiene products. A team of  Polish and Ukrainian riders set off that very day in the direction of Ternopil/Ukraine. The relief supplies are distributed to needy people in two orphanages and two children’s hospitals as well as in metro stations. It is urgent, say the helpers who have already been on the scene.

Packing action 5.3.2022: The trucks go directly to Ukraine. Our transporters to Poland.

Relief convoy of Menschenfreude e.V.

Under these great conditions and with countless good wishes in our luggage, our first aid convoy started on March 8. Initially planned as one vehicle with trailer, it ended up as twelve vehicles with a total of 24 drivers. Included: warm blankets, sleeping bags, other hygiene items. What would still be needed locally, we would be able to buy with the help of the donations.

Twelve vans, ten of them with trailers, full of relief supplies on their way to Poland.

The trip report: part 2 

There have been many very emotional encounters and many lasting impressions that have moved us all very much. Read the report of our trip in the second part… 

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More information about the relief transports of Menschenfreude e.V.

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