Protective gear is organized before being packed in suitcases at the Dave and Brittany Milligan home in Millville. The gear will be transported to Ukraine.
MILLVILLE – Last week several family members and friends gathered at the Dave and Brittany Milligan home in Millville to sort, organize and pack over 24 suitcases full of body armor, tactical vests, helmets, first-aid kits and more bound for Ukraine. Dave’s sister, Jeanne Wardle, served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Donetsk, Ukraine over 20 years ago and has returned to the country several times after her mission. Now the Las Vegas resident is on another mission, to save lives in the war-torn country.
Through a contact at Delta Airlines, Wardle was able to arrange up to six additional suitcases per person on their flight to Krakow, Poland. Wardle is accompanied by her brother, his wife Brittany and the couple’s teenage son Davey.
“We’re taking tons of body armor,” Wardle exclaimed. “We worked with Klyn Foundation and they gave us tons of medical supplies … All over Vegas and Cache Valley people have given us suitcases, cash donations, items that we need. So we’ll show up and find out what else needs to be done.”
Wardle, along with others who have spent time in Ukraine, has established reliable contacts to ensure the donations get into the right hands while also working with friends and other charities helping with the humanitarian crisis on the Polish border.
Dave Milligan said after they deliver their suitcases full of gear, they will stay near the Polish border and help gather whatever supplies may be needed to assist refugees.
“We might be running to the border picking people up or helping people get back to Ukraine,” Milligan explained. “We’ll just be playing it by ear.”
Brittany Milligan said anyone willing to help in their efforts while they remain in Poland may donate to their Venmo account, @davey2brittany, and 100% of those funds will be used to buy supplies for those in need. Since they have arrived in Poland, they have purchased large quantities of socks, shoes, underwear and other necessities for refugees living in Poland.
Ben Gochberg and his business partner Nate Buckingham operate Wasatch Pawn in Logan and helped procure hundreds of pounds of body armor for Ukrainians fighting for their freedom.
“Over the course of the last 90 days I estimate that we’ve sold approximately a quarter million dollars worth of body armor at a negative margin out of that little shop in Logan, Utah,” Goctchberg said. “This body armor – a single plate set front (and) back plus (vest) – retails for over $1,200 over seas. We’re moving them for under $400. It’s been a great group effort.”
Both of Gochberg’s great-grandparents are from Ukrainian and Gochberg’s wife is Moldovan so the conflict in Ukraine is motivating him to help out. He said Redemption Tactical, a supplier of body armor in Heber City, has been helping the group acquire the right quantities of high-end ceramic plates.
“I can’t think of too many organizations in Utah,” Gochberg continued, “who have moved hundreds of units of body armor across the border through individuals going on a trip as individuals.”
Jason Stout had been trying to help in his own way by raising money and sending supplies to Ukraine, then teamed with Responsibility Foundation. The non-profit group based in Utah County has helped donations of supplies to Poland and Ukraine, while also arranging drivers to transport people and supplies.
“Right now we’re working on protective gear and we’re slowly transitioning to medical equipment, and maybe some drones if we can keep the funding coming.”
Stout was living in Ukraine for seven years before the war started and was able to evacuate with his family. He has returned to the country several times helping in relief efforts.
“I connected with some friends and other members of the Church (of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) in Lviv. I was actually working with a branch president who said one of his members was joining a military unit but nobody in his unit had uniforms and only one bullet-proof vest. They took turns wearing it hoping it wasn’t their day to take a bullet.”
Stout said, in Ukraine, if a military unit is lucky enough to have a bullet-proof vest it likely contains a 15-20 pound steel plate. The vests and body armor they were assembling in the Milligan’s garage were half that weight.
“We feel better knowing we can do something to help the effort,” Stout exclaimed. “The thing that will save Ukrainians the most is by keeping the Russian soldiers out of their cities. Once the Russian soldiers get in, that’s when the atrocities happen. I feel like the best way we can save people is by equipping soldiers who are protecting them.”
Stout said donations are still needed because the war is still being fought. Stories about the war are no longer part of the active news cycle so Americans have been turning their focus to other things.
“If we can get people to continue to donate, we can continue to help,” Stout added. “Our niche, as a small organization, is we can pivot t0 whatever needs are exactly at this moment extant in Ukraine. We have people who are friends and have battalions and all these connections, and so we ask them, ‘what do you need now?’ And that’s what we focus on. But we desperately need funding. That’s our biggest bottle neck right now.”
Davey Milligan will be a senior at Ridgeline High School next year and Dave is excited for his son to have an opportunity to help those in need thousands of miles away.
“This, I think, will be one of those experiences he’ll remember and will help develop him throughout his life,” Milligan said. “He’ll remember this, kind of like a lot of us who served missions that’s what helped us and this will be a similar experience for him.”
Wardle said besides sending life-saving equipment, they are sending messages of hope, reminding Ukrainians that they’re not forgotten.
“In the beginning, everyone was making such big deal about standing with Ukraine and everything was yellow and blue. Then, of course, there are new things happening on the news and it is just slowly forgotten.”
So she created small cards with a penny attached and a familiar phrase Americans learn as children.
“‘Find a penny pick it up, all day long you’ll have good luck.’ So, we’re sending them this penny to remind them that they’re friends in the U.S. are supporting them. Then it says ‘we hope you’ll feel our support and love.
“‘On the penny it says ‘In God We Trust’ and we pray that God will protect you and give you strength.’ And of course it says Slava Ukraini, which is Glory to Ukraine.”
Wardle has had people in Las Vegas and in multiple communities around Cache Valley sign the cards to personalize them, letting Ukrainians know they have support.
Stout said those interested in helping out can donate at ResponsibilityFoundation.org. He said 100% of all donations go directly to helping those in need. The organization is run by volunteers and people even pay for their own travel.