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Letters from Ukraine about Shipments
(read
how the shipments have impacted the people who receive the items)
 Humanitarian
aid has been collected and packed from various congregations and
shipped to Ukraine. The items have been shipped by the U. S. State
Department and are under the protection of the international
treaties between the USA and Ukraine.
In
2004, our first nine 40-foot cargo containers were packed from
collection sites in Judsonia, AR; Nashville, TN; St. Louis, MO;
Columbus, MS; Memphis, TN; Chattanooga, TN; Elizabethtown, KY,
Princeton, IN; and, Huntsville, AL. The total monetary value of the
containers was in the millions of dollars. For each container, the
inventories must be approved by Kiev, Ukraine and Washington, D.C.
Then the containers are loaded at the sites. Finally they are
shipped via sea-going vessel to Odessa, Ukraine and then trucked to
the designated distribution sites.
 Seven
shipments have already been sent in 2005 and others are to follow.
These were collected in sites in Florence, AL; Columbus, MS;
Judsonia, AR; and Jackson, TN and Princeton, IN. Future shipments
are presently being prepared as well.
Although the US government is paying the cost of transportation, the
involvement of the U. S. Government ends with the transportation.
The shipments are sent to consignees in Ukraine and they work with
local congregations of the Lord’s Church to distribute the items to
those in greatest need. All distribution is through the local
churches following the Biblical order of benevolence. We have full
control over the distribution process and this helps to avoid the
pitfalls of political bosses in Ukraine attempting to divert the
shipments to those they select. Every item is tagged with the
statement that it is “given free by the church of Christ.” There
will be follow-up to insure that the items are being used and have
not been sold on the black market.
If you
are interested in helping with this work, see the
list of items suggested. We can
then put you in touch with the closest collection site. |
Helpful Documents:
Past Shipments:
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