CLEVELAND — Art Lukovich spent most of his childhood growing up in Ukraine before his immediate family moved to America in the early 2000s. 

What You Need To Know

  • A northeast Ohio man is collecting medical supplies to send to Ukraine

  • The items will go to hospitals, soldiers and injured civilians

  • The public donate to the cause

“I still have a few cousins out there, (a) grandmother and two uncles,” Lukovich said. 

Lukovich now works as a physical therapist both in a hospital and in out-patient treatment in Cleveland. 

“When the pandemic started and [medical] supplies were kind of (scarce), a lot of people were sitting on edge, with angst thinking we don’t have equipment, what are we going to do?” Lukovich said. “So, I can only imagine what it’s like being in that situation where you are in wartime and you are out of medical equipment,” 

He started collecting essential medical supplies to send over to Ukraine. 

“CPR masks, tourniquets which are crucial, especially in wartime, other stuff like skin stapler I found is crucial for wounds you need to close before you can stitch them,” he listed. “Pulse oximeters are crucial, wound care kits, surgical dressing, a lot of pain management, like ibuprofen, antibiotic creams, gloves which are crucial.” 

The list of what he acquired goes on, and all of these medical supplies will help people who have been injured during the war. 

“They will be dispersed through the hospital,” he explained. “[They] will also be sent to the front lines and to civilians in need in different parts of Ukraine.” 

He is trying to send medical supplies over once every two weeks. So far, he’s already sent several packages full of life-saving items. 

“Also remind them that there are people abroad that care, Ukrainian and non-Ukrainian,” he said. “We are with you guys, and we will do what we can for you.” 

You can contact Lukovich via email at arturio05@yahoo.com or send monetary donations here.