Volunteers story

Nathalie Halbout is with David Halbout in Kyiv, Ukraine.

War extends beyond the battlefield, involving ordinary people who step up to help.

 Ukrainians have a knack for self-organizing—just look at the two revolutions within the last 15 years!

Throughout Kyiv, there are dozens of volunteer centers with a different purpose. In one, they package dried borscht ingredients in individual packages; in another, they sew adaptive clothing for the wounded soldiers, in yet another camouflage nets are assembled. This production is efficient, like a well-oiled machine. Earth-toned fabrics are cut into strips by a handheld contraption. Then a skeleton fish net is stretched across the frame. Women work in unison, swiftly weaving in the mosaic of colors. They need to finish it by 6 pm to get it to the post office by 7 pm to be shipped to the frontline.

 I can almost hear you wondering: Does not the government provide the needed items? The demand always exceeds the supply.

Camouflage nets are crucial not only for soldiers but also for volunteers evacuating civilians from dangerous areas, ambulances, and anything needing concealment from enemy drones.

P.S. These volunteer centers are run on donations from ordinary citizens and manage to function despite constant power outages.#redbank #redbanknj #monmouthcountynj #monmouthcounty #centraljersey