Chilliwack man in Ukraine staying to help residents

A Chilliwack man is doing what he can to help people in Ukraine, taking it each day at a time, as the country continues to face an onslaught of attacks from Russia almost a week into the invasion.

“We quickly sprung into action to purchase as many things as we possibly can because stores are starting to close, the ability to be able to pay for the items are becoming more limited,” Chad Martz told CityNews from western Ukraine. His exact location is not being made public to protect his safety.

He lives in Ukraine with his wife Mary, who is Ukrainian, and their daughter. Their work through the charity “Hungry for Life International” has become a lifeline for many in recent days, delivering supplies to those who need it throughout Ukraine. He says they were getting ready even before the attack began, just in case.

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“We did [it] just in case something was to break out, we did have resources that were available to us, just in case something were to happen, which it did. So I’m very grateful that we took those measures. So we were quickly busy just gathering as much supplies as we can imagine,” he said.

The organization is able to assist in several areas which have been hit in recent days, and help those who are travelling west out of the country to escape.

“There was 52 children from the orphanage, plus the staff, plus their families, plus other people coming along. Fortunately, we got a call a few hours later that they actually made it through, where the fighting was, to be able to safely start making their way across the country. However, because of martial law, it’s extremely difficult and the amount of vehicles on the road, it, I think it was three days then they finally arrived.”

He worries that without supplies and vital infrastructure, it will become dire.

“We’re going to be running out of food here…We’re in contact with a lot of the food stores and they’re just struggling to get the food in. So we have already started working with how we can open up supply chains coming from the EU to be able to provide the things that we need to provide,” he said.

“If power goes off we don’t have running water, we don’t have heat in these places, we don’t have anything so we’re trying to get as much done as we can to care for those who are who are coming in addition to preparing for much longer potential stay for people,” he said.

A photo from Chad Martz blog where he details his experience in Ukraine trying to help others. (hungryforlife.org)

Many who are fleeing need basic supplies.

“I was actually on the border today and just the just the huge amount of people who are there crossing into the European Union and each one of those vehicles, each one of those people that are going, are leaving everything. It’s unbelievable the amount of damage it’s doing to people’s lives”

“Food, clothes, mattresses, bedding, you name it,” he said. “Somebody just asked me if I have a pair of jeans and they don’t have a pair of jeans. So I know that’s very simple, but this is just what people [need as they are] fleeing.”

He says the organization uses its ties to other churches and religious leaders in order to help.

“We have a lot of partners there that have chosen to stay or in an around the fighting. It’s a scary situation. Even family members are out there,” he said.

Martz has only called Ukraine home for about a year, but is determined to help in any way that he can, and despite the advice from the Canadian government to leave, he says they are determined to remain as long as they can.