Another shipment with 45,000 pounds of food, water, and medical supplies headed to Warsaw, Poland Tuesday as part of a new commitment.
UPS flew the shipment nonstop from Louisville to Germany. Another UPS flight to Poland will then deliver it.
“It’s part of a commitment by the UPS foundation to send an entire aircraft load of humanitarian aid to Warsaw, Poland,” says UPS media relations director Jim Mayer. “UPS has made strong efforts ever since this crisis began developing.”
UPS’ commitment continues even when the supplies make it to their final destination.
“We have UPS logistics experts on the ground helping with the distribution of all of this aid to ensure that it gets to where it needs to go,” says Mayer.
Getting what is needed, where it’s needed as fast as possible, starts with partnerships with organizations like SOS International, a Louisville-based nonprofit that collects and redistributes surplus medical supplies and equipment.
UPS continues to deliver medical supplies collected by the humanitarian aid organization to Ukrainian refugees.
“This is an example of organizations bringing what they do best and working together to be able to help those in need,” says SOS president and CEO Denise Sears.
In addition to earlier deliveries, SOS sent more wound care, orthopedic and oxygen supplies requested by partners on the ground, helping people get well enough to move out of danger.
“When our first shipment arrived our partner on the ground called me crying,” says Sears. “They were so overwhelmed with emotion, that here in Louisville here in the United States, that we would care so much about what they’re going through that we would work so hard to respond.”
SOS has more shipments in the works and will continue to aid Ukraine through its road to rebuilding through partnerships.
“In situations like this, we would not be able to do it without the partnership of UPS,” says Sears.
UPS commits to transporting 80 metric tons of humanitarian aid from the Louisville Worldport Air Hub in this new effort.
“We certainly hope that the work that UPS is doing will have an impact. We are playing a part of this. There are many, many people who are are involved but as a company, we’re proud to be able to participate and provide help to those in need,” says Mayer.
SOS invites the community to get involved in making a difference around the globe by volunteering to sort and pack donated medical supplies.
For more ways you can help, click here.