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A Shelter Outside Lviv

In Q4 of 2022, with Winter fast approaching and Ukraine’s electrical infrastructure being targeted, Direct Effect pivoted our operation and began concentrating on how to get generators to Ukrainians in need. Since this pivot, we have successfully delivered three 40KVA generators into Ukraine. The first generator went to a shelter supporting 90 woman and children outside of Lviv. With the delivery of that generator, along with a reliable maintenance contractor and diesel supply, this shelter’s generator is used almost daily to keep the electricity on and the building heated. Inspired by the success and massive positive impact of the first generator, we raised more funds and were able to bring two more 40KVA generators to the town of Horodok. These generators were hooked up to the sewage and water treatment plant of the town, ensuring that the 40,000 residents would be able to have running water in the event of power outages. These generators are also used almost daily.

The word of our successful generator operations spread, and in mid-December we were introduced to four hospitals in Kherson that desperately need generators. This project is Direct Effect’s biggest undertaking as an Organization, with a project cost of almost $100,000 USD. We were able to source the generators in Belgium and have them shipped to Przemysl, Poland, where we will take them across the border to Lviv, and escort them on a transport truck to Kherson. We are in touch with all of the hospital administrators and have prepared for the delivery to take place on January 15th. With almost $75,000 raised, this project is still around $25,000 short of our goal. Please consider donating to this project and help us to have a Direct Effect on these hospitals and help Ukrainians in need. DONATE NOW

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Generators for Hospitals in Kherson

Our current project was brought to us by our dear friend Alina. We met Alina while volunteering on the Polish-Ukraine border distributing food to refugees fleeing the war. Alina was born in Kherson and her heart is still there. When she heard about Direct Effect delivering generators to shelters inside Ukraine, she told us the story of her friend from home who was looking for generators for four hospitals in Kherson. This immediately became DEAN’s next, and by far biggest project to date. To date, we have been able to raise $75,000 of the $98,000 project costs. The generators have already been purchased and the generators are on their way to Kherson as I write this. We still have a long way to go in order to raise the total of the project, so if you are considering donating, now is the time!

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Generators for Horodok

The story of the generators for Horodok begins with 25 boxes of chocolates. After we delivered our first generator to the shelter housing refugees outside of Lviv, our friend Anghard saw what we were doing and asked for a favor. He had been using his expertise as a chef to help a town source and cook food for internally displaced Ukrainians, and wanted us to drop off some chocolate for them as a gift. While going to drop off the chocolates, we asked if we could help with anything else. In a joking way, they told us that what the town really needed was two 40KVA generators for the ater treatment plant and sewage system. Everytime the power went out they would lose running water and not be able to flush. They did not expect this wish to be fulfilled. We snapped into action, sourced the generators and raised $42,000 in 5 weeks. We sourced the generators from our partner in Belgium and drove them ourselves to the town. The look on their faces when we showed up with the generators was priceless! Despite constant blackouts, the town of Horodok will always have running water and a working sewage system.

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Generator for a LVIV Shelter

The generator that started it all! The shelter outside of Lviv was the inspiration for founding Direct Effect. Rachel and David committed to supporting this shelter with all of their needs through the end of the war. While back in the US, we wrote to the founders of the shelter to check in and see if they had all of their needs met, as Winter was fast approaching. They had requested a few items, including generators. We made a trip over to Ukraine to deliver essential supplies and two 5KW generators. While there, someone helping with some construction on the site saw the 5KW generators and informed us that those would only cover the kitchen and maybe a few other rooms, and what they really needed was a 40KW generator to power the whole building. The shelter houses 95+ women and children, and we could not leave them cold and in the dark for the Winter. DEAN snapped into action, raising $30,000, sourcing the generator from Germany, and delivering back to the shelter all within 10 days. The look on their faces when we returned with the generator was priceless, and the immediate impact the generator made was abundantly clear. This was an ah-ha moment for us, realizing that the biggest impact we could make with Winter approaching was to find more generators for other Ukrainians in need.

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Misha’s story of courage has been an inspiration for DEAN

Cerebral Palsy in a War Zone.


Displaced due to the war, Misha arrived at the shelter in Lviv from Zaporizhzia with his mother in March. With only an old stroller for mobility, they struggle through daily tasks, but always with a smile. To see this family, in a war zone, fleeing, and still be able to smile and find joy was an incredible inspiration for all of us.  Direct Effect was able to partner with an amazing organization, The Grace Children’s Foundation, to build Misha a customized wheelchair. Rachel Vaugh, our Co-Founder, was able to deliver the wheelchair herself.

The strength of people like Misha inspires us to continue our mission. If you know of someone in need, please reach out to us and we are happy to help as much as we can.

 

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