LUkraine Warehouse Visit Shows Need for More Volunteers, Donations

Chronicle.lu recently had the opportunity to visit the LUkraine asbl humanitarian warehouse in the municipality of Käerjeng in the south of Luxembourg, to meet the volunteers and learn more about their work and challenges.

Eddie Berkovitch, LUkraine asbl Committee Member, gave a guided tour of the facility and explained the workings in and around the warehouse. He explained that the warehouse not only functions as a central space for storage and distribution of humanitarian aid and donations but also serves as an emergency relief centre for Ukrainian people feeling the war in Ukraine. Eddie clarified that the warehouse is open to all volunteers who want to help as well to any refugee who needs clothes, furniture, hygiene products, etc. He explained further that in addition to the volunteers at the warehouse trying to put together the donations received from private individuals and corporate donors for shipment to Ukraine, on average about 100 refugees visit the facility every week. Recently, with winter approaching, the number of visitors is increasing, noted Eddie.

Regarding the warehouse itself, Eddie recalled that initially LUkraine asbl had a smaller “hub” in Hôpital Kirchberg in Luxembourg-Kirchberg, but in May 2022, Rotary Club Esch-Bassin Minier together with the SISA industrial centre in Bascharage, offered LUkraine asbl this bigger space at 5 Rue Bommel in Bascharage.In addition, two vehicles, one of which has been provided in-kind by the company Reckinger, are used to collect the donations as well as to distribute heavy furniture to people in need.

Elaborating on the subject of donations, Eddie confirmed that since mid-October, there has been a rise in material donations but given the recent attacks on the power and electricity infrastructure in Ukraine, warm clothes, generators, power banks and heaters are now much sought after items. Eddie showed Chronicle.lu three power generators that they have received and are planned to be delivered to Ukraine soon.

Regarding the number of volunteers at the warehouse, Eddie estimated that around 400 volunteers have participated at different stages and currently there are five main volunteers and about 20 ad-hoc volunteers who work often. Eddie noted that the warehouse was mostly relying on the support of female volunteers. "Recently, we [have been] experiencing a shortage in [male] volunteers", he said. "Sometimes the donations are heavy and although Ukrainian women are strong, men's help won't [hurt]".

When asked about his main reason for joining LUkraine asbl, Eddie explained that he is an Israeli and knowing that his family escaped from Romania during the Nazi occupation in World War II, he can relate to the pain of Ukrainian war refugees. He therefore wanted to help Ukrainian people as much as he could.

When asked about a memorable incident at the warehouse, Eddie recalled that some time in June 2022 when LUkraine asbl bought an old ambulance in Italy and brought it to Luxembourg for refurbishing, several support measures followed, including volunteers offering to drive the ambulance to Ukraine, free maintenance offered by the Autopolis Utilitaires car garage and the SNCA team preparing and processing the necessary paperwork in a single day. The ambulance was later delivered to the Kharkiv region in Ukraine. So far, they have sent thirteen ambulances and two fire engines to Ukraine, confirmed Eddie.

Natalia Horbenko, a volunteer at the warehouse, said that she had fled the war in Ukraine with her daughter and since arriving in Luxembourg, she has had a strong desire to help others in a similar situation. Once she learned about LUkraine asbl, it was an easy choice for her to become part of the volunteer team.

Liudmyla Tigha, another volunteer at the warehouse and a war refugee from Kharkiv, agreed that it was important for her to help others, especially people who have lost everything in Ukraine. When asked about a memorable incident at the warehouse, Liudmyla vividly recalled that a small girl, while her parents were at the warehouse for donation, approached her and gave her a bracelet, saying: “Soon the war will end and you will be able to return home”. That moment and gesture touched Liudmyla’s heart.

LUkraine asbl is organising a collection of presents for Ukrainian children at the humanitarian warehouse on Saturday 17 December 2022 at 17:30. Members of the public are invited to bring a present (or other donation) on this occasion. There will be performances by Ukrainian dancers and singers as well as music, wine and more.

LUkraine asbl is also currently running a fundraising campaign called "Ukraine is calling" to raise enough money to buy 112 ambulances for Ukraine in the context of the war.