Our Organization

Hello, my name is Michael. I am a volunteer who works with the Be A Hero UA foundation in Poland. Our organization has been operating since early March with the dedicated goal of providing humanitarian assistance and other forms of aid to the soldiers and civilians still living in Ukraine. We have built a strong track record as a reliable partner, having sent close to 70 supply convoys made up of over 200 provisioned vehicles. Our experience has ranged from delivering ambulances, medical equipment, sanitary products, nutritional packages, and power generators to body armor and drones. Our efforts have in the past garnered recognition from NGOs, Ukrainian officials, and the US ambassador to Poland. You can see more information on our website https://beaheroua.org/en/

The Story

One of our contacts is an American Marine veteran, named Issac, who is now fighting as an international volunteer in Ukraine. His twitter handle is @Marine_Ukraine. Since March, he has served in battles like Irpin, Mikolaiv, and Luhansk. Issac recently send a request to Be A Hero UA, asking for two vehicles to be purchased and delivered to the frontlines. In his words, “We are looking for vehicles to move people, gear and humanitarian supplies to and from the front.” In addition, he asked for a satellite phone, a GPS navigator, a drone, batteries, and sanitary supplies. Now three of his comrades have come forward and are asking for these items as well.

On August 8, we made our first delivery of items for Issac, driving a Volkswagen Touareg to Kyiv with a package of GPS systems, a tactical vest, gloves, and a drone. We are intent on bring the same supplies to Issac’s comrades and purchasing a second car. The difficulty is that Be A Hero has been paying for all these items out of pocket so far. Including the cost of the two cars (20,000 USD) and the additional equipment ($5,000), Be A Hero is set to spend 25,000 USD. We need help to mitigate these costs or else we will be unable to provide all the materials to volunteers like Issac. With the donations provided to this fundraiser, we will be able to do just that.

The Impact

Though news cycle has shifted its attention elsewhere, the somber fact remains that the war in Ukraine has not died down. The battle for the liberation of Kherson rages on as does the defense of the Donbas. Just a few days ago, the city of Mykolaiv was devasted by an artillery campaign the likes of which has not been seen in Europe for 77 years. Estimates of civilian deaths released by the Ukrainian government reach as high 30,000, a figure comparable to the Yugoslav wars. The fact that this war could occur in our lifetimes is disgusting, and yet its outcome is still being decided. There are those who refuse to accept that one authoritarian can invade a country of 44 million and irreversibly destroy the lives of so many without facing an utter defeat. Please help us support these heroes. They fight for a beautiful and free country but they also fight for all of us, for a promise of peace and freedom which can never likewise be violated.

Risks & Challenges

The biggest risk facing this project is potential delays at the border. Be A Hero is privileged to have a strong relationship with the Ukrainian border units and official contacts on both sides of the border. In addition, we have volunteers dedicated to understanding the regulations and bureaucracy concerning cross border travel into Ukraine, always making sure our convoys have the proper paperwork. Nonetheless, there is the occasional risk that border guards may implement a more stringent inspection. These have been known to delay deliveries by hours or even days. The obvious risk is that if we are delayed in bringing necessary equipment to military units, people could be injured or die as a result. Unfortunately, there is no other way to bring such supplies to the battlefront.