When the unrest in Ukraine started, CrowdSource Rescue knew they had to do something.
So they gathered a team of experienced volunteers and headed to the Ukrainian border. What they found was tumult and tension but also a sense of familiarity and excitement.
The group is now working with an NGO in Kyiv to provide much-needed search and rescue assistance to those affected by the conflict.
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CrowdSource Rescue History
CrowdSource Rescue is a DIY rescue organization (just like the Cajun Navy) created by good Samaritans from across the region after Hurricane Harvey.
After rescuing their stranded neighbors, they gathered together to form an organization that helps during natural disasters and emergencies.
This past year, they have been very active in helping out with the COVID-19 pandemic. They have been providing critical supplies, such as food, water, and medical supplies, to areas hit the hardest.
Now they are turning their attention to the people of Ukraine who are suffering from the conflict.
The Team in Kyiv
The team in Kyiv is composed of highly-trained veterans and first responders who have decades of experience in search and rescue.
They are working with an NGO, which is providing them with access to the areas most affected by the conflict.
We have to do something.
That’s what CrowdSource Rescue founder Matthew Marchetti thought when he first heard about the unrest in Ukraine.
A veteran of both Hurricane Katrina and Superstorm Sandy, Marchetti was no stranger to disaster response, but this felt different. So he gathered a team of experienced volunteers and headed to the Ukrainian border.
What they found was tumult and tension but also a sense of familiarity and excitement.
The team is now working with an NGO in Kyiv to provide much-needed search and rescue assistance to those affected by the conflict.
Ukraine: a conflict zone unlike any other
In a way, the team’s familiarity with disaster zones has been an asset in Ukraine.
Well, kind of.
But the conflict in Ukraine is unlike any other disaster zone the team has responded to. The situation there is constantly changing, and the team has had to adapt to new challenges rapidly.
One of the biggest challenges has been getting medicine into the country. Supplies are plentiful in Lviv and across the border – but scarce elsewhere.
Days later, the team was headed back to the Polish border to drop off a few evacuees they’d picked up and obtain more supplies.
The Language Barrier
His volunteers didn’t speak the language or know the region. And while some have combat experience, they’d be entering Ukraine as civilian rescuers, not as heavily armored soldiers.
One of the more difficult things the team has encountered is the language barrier.
Many people in the regions they are working in do not speak English. This has made communication difficult and has hampered the team’s ability to help those affected by the conflict effectively.
But despite the challenges, the team has continued to work tirelessly to provide much-needed assistance to those affected by the conflict.
Special Set of Skills
What sets the team apart is their unique set of skills. Many of the volunteers have a military or first responder backgrounds, which has been a valuable asset in Ukraine.
The team also has a lot of experience working in disaster zones, which has come in handy given the chaotic and ever-changing nature of the conflict in Ukraine.
What you can do to help
If you’d like to help support the team in Kyiv, there are a few things you can do:
- Donate to CrowdSource Rescue. Your donation will help support the team’s work in Ukraine.
- Share this article on Facebook, Twitter, and other social media to help raise awareness about the team’s work.
- Pray for the team and the people of Ukraine.
Your donations are 100% tax-deductible and will help the team continue their work in Ukraine.
Thank you for your support!
