"See here, this is what we need to fill out for just one car."
In front of us was a screen full of forms that needed to be completed by multiple parties that included Angels of the Front, the Bank, a military unit, the car seller, and probably someone in the UK (where they were getting the car.) In total, more than ten pages of paperwork that all amounted to getting some 200 000 hryvnia converted to British pounds by their Ukrainian bank. This is but one thing that Kateryna and her small volunteer team of less than a dozen volunteers deal with everyday to help their people and their country.
Aside from procuring vehicles, Angels of the Front also works in procuring other supplies that serves in both defensive and support roles for their front line troops such as buying drones and radios, as well as bringing camouflage netting and trench candles among other things to units stationed on the front. As if that was not enough, they also work to basic food and aid supplies for the families and individuals in their community who need the extra support as well as the people who have fled the from the eastern and southern halves of Ukraine since the war began in earnest in 2022.
During the week with Angels of the Front, I was able to see all these parts of their work as I helped them create care packages for individuals in the community with a portion of supplies that was generously donated from the Netherlands, weave camouflage netting with the team of ladies who have dedicated their time to this craft, and making the very same trench candles they eventually send to the front with some of the most artistic people I have ever met.
In this same time, I was also able to participate in the community that is Angels of the Front and their supporters as I witnessed joyful evenings where everyone had the chance to finally get together for the first time in weeks or sometimes even months as they spent the evening catching up with one another, laughing, and forgetting for those brief moments the reality of the situation that existed outside, in the wider world.
It was in moments like these I also learned more about Angels of the Front and the people who make it all possible. As Kateryna and others explained, everything they have is essentially donated. The chairs, desks, the two small couches, all the way to the building, completely donated to them by people who believe in what their doing; supporting their people on the front line. Because of these generous donations, it means that Angels of the Front can put the majority of their funding to supporting front line soldiers through the supplies they procure and in turn they meticulously document and make public how every dollar is spent.
Because of their thoroughness and openness, I can see why other organizations have partnered with them in turn to provide humanitarian food aid to refugees in the villages they operate from while also being a springboard for delivering aid to other trustworthy organizations in Ukraine. An example of this is the same shipment from the Netherlands in which two-thirds of the shipment were distributed to other trustworthy organizations in parts of Ukraine.
In this week, I was inspired and in awe of the work of this small group of people and all they work to accomplish. Despite the obstacles and challenges they face, Angels of the Front continues to put their best effort forward everyday in all that they do. Whether it be getting new supplies for the people of their community or making a run to the front line to drop off a vehicle and other supplies for a military unit, these people give it their all. Day or night, no matter what odds they face, these people are thee Angels of the Front, both at point zero and home.
This here is but a snippet of what I saw and experienced. If you are looking to become involved and support them either financially, with supplies, or simply want to learn more about them, you can check out their social media and webites here:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angels_of_the_front_cf/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AngelsFrontUA
Website: https://www.angelsofthefront.org/