Rotary clubs in Eastern Nebraska and Western Iowa combined efforts with dozens more across the upper Midwest to airlift medical supplies to Poland and ultimately Ukraine. The effort was initiated by members of the Ukrainian Medical Association of North America based in Chicago.
Randy Bretz with the Lincoln Downtown Rotary tells KLIN News, “The first plane made it to Poland and is being off-loaded and being sent into Ukraine. There is about 50 tons of supplies in Chicago waiting for the next plane. We are collecting supplies in Nebraska. Anyone who wants to help can get a hold of their local Rotary Club and they have a list of the supplies they need. It includes gauze, Neosporin ointment, chlorine tablets to help clean water and things of that nature.”
Bretz says, “There are Rotary Clubs all over the world and I think there are 60-some in Ukraine alone. There is just a connection you have when you belong to an organization like Rotary or Kiwanis, or any of these organizations, there is a connection so we wanted to reach out to them a do what we could.”
Many clubs in Nebraska and Iowa have also responded to other challenges. Donations were made to the Rotary International disaster relief aid and members donated $50,000. Steve Glenn owner of Executive Travel and a member of the downtown Lincoln club is donating $25,000 toward emergency housing for Ukraine refugees in Poland. The head of the International Quilt Museum in Lincoln has connected with Rotary members in Ukraine and is fostering a special project.
Anyone with medical supplies they can donate is asked to contact their local Rotary club for details or send an email to: District5650Projects@gmail.com