Cambridge charity sending over 3 million servings of food to Ukraine

Ontario Christian Gleaners (OCG) is preparing to send over three million servings of dehydrated food to Poland to help Ukrainians affected by the war. 

Elaine Merkus, manager at the Cambridge-based humanitarian aid organization, walks through the facility making sure everything is running smoothly.

They are preparing to send the first of three shipping containers with over one million servings of food to Ukrainian refugees being displaced by the Russian invasion. 

“We are about to send the first container with over one million servings to Poland, we also have containers going to places like Moldova,” Merkus said. 

These shipping containers hold barrels full of dehydrated food packages, including cabbage, sweet potatoes and other mixed vegetables.

They are getting most of their food donated by local suppliers, but also purchase some to create a complete meal full of protein, carbs and essential vitamins. 

OCG is partnering with Chatham humanitarian aid and mission society Loads of Love to distribute the food in Europe. 

Ed Dickson is the overseas representative for Loads of Love in Ukraine and has lived there for the past 25 years. He plans on returning to Ukraine next week to continue his missionary work. 

“I've been living in Ukraine for over 25 years. I'm here now, but my heart is there,” said Dickson.

The food will travel from Cambridge to Warsaw, Poland, then on its way into Ukraine where it will be distributed through trusted channels in the country. 

“We have a new partner in Poland, right in Warsaw. They're going to receive the containers at their warehouse. Then our partner on the inside near Kiev, they're going to arrange for the trucks to come from inside Ukraine,” said Dickson.

The missionary is amazed that they can still get trucks through the country and get supplies to those in need. There are many risks with transporting aid in the war torn country, people are literally putting their lives on the line.

“It's just amazing that those trucks are still moving. They're still hauling groceries and other things. These people are taking their lives in their hands driving on these routes,” Dickson said. 

The humanitarian society has purchased eight vehicles in Ukraine to help with distributing groceries.

In the last month, they have helped more than 15,000 families compared to the 10,000 families they supported in all of 2021. 

The OCG is always looking for volunteers to help cut, dry and package the food they send all around the world. More Information can be found at their website.