Many people in the industry and beyond know about the Charitable Organization "Medical Aid Committee in Zakarpattya", which has been actively operating since 2000. After February 24, 2022, we, like the entire civil society, began to work harder, there were more requests and tasks, and there were more of us in general. At a certain stage, we realized that along with the office, there is a fairly stable organism – a kind of volunteer headquarter that brought together people whose daily work is definitely worthy of attention in the warehouse space.

The first story is about the Polyakov family from Kharkiv. They have been with us since March and are responsible for the medical area of work. They ended up in Uzhhorod because of the war, and before that they had been here exclusively as tourists.

Vyacheslav Polyakov is a father, a doctor by profession, but before the war he was an entrepreneur for a long time. In Uzhhorod, he returned to the medical field, as he helps at the volunteer headquarter in the medical warehouse.

– When the shelling of Kharkiv began, especially the air attacks, we stayed in the bomb shelter for a long time. Later, it was reported that there would be logistical problems due to the destruction of the infrastructure, so I decided to evacuate my family. That’s how we ended up in Uzhhorod, where we have many friends who invited us to flee here. When we arrived, in the first days we needed to do something useful to distract ourselves from the news and bad thoughts. That’s how we got acquainted with the Medical Aid Committee in Zakarpattya. Since March 12, our whole family has been here at the warehouse every day. All these boxes and pallets of medicines are our field of activity. So we work with our heads and hands.

During his volunteer work, Vyacheslav (or simply Slava among the volunteers) once again realized that the world is a small place, as he met many fellow countrymen who also ended up in Uzhhorod because of the war.

– I met some Kharkiv doctors I knew. Some sent their families abroad and then returned home. Others ended up in the territorial defense units, which we helped with medical support. These were short meetings, but we keep in touch all the time.

Despite the turbulent neighborhood, the Polyakovs’ property survived, with minor damage from the wreckage of a Russian missile that hit a neighboring house and flooding due to problems with the city’s utility infrastructure.

– No matter where we are, no matter what conditions we are in, we want to go home. Our thoughts are always there. That is why we are trying to do everything possible to bring victory closer, because it opens the way for Kharkiv residents to return to their homes.

Veronika Polyakova is a daughter, a hematologist and oncologist. Her place of work in Kharkiv was destroyed by enemy artillery and tank fire in the first days of the war. The story of the family’s cooperation with the CO "MACZ" began with Veronika, who was called to disassemble and sort the humanitarian cargoes with medicines. Later it turned out that it wasn’t packaging or boxes, but several trucks, and accordingly a lot of hands were needed.

– Along with volunteering, I remained a hematologist and oncologist: I consulted patients online in the evening and worked at the medical warehouse during the day. Although the activity was familiar, I also learned a lot, for example, about European medicines – analogues to those we are used to in Ukraine. I think it’s an important experience. But the biggest impression and achievement is new acquaintances. Our team is great, and each other’s support is invaluable.

Veronika is the only member of her family who has returned to Kharkiv since the evacuation. There she went to work at the hospital and worked according to the approved schedule.

– I came to an empty Kharkiv. It was a very strange feeling, I had never seen the city like this. There was shelling every day... But at home I met the volunteers I had acquainted with here, in Uzhhorod. It was my kind of support group – they met me and saw me off from work, worried about how I was doing. I am talking about people with whom we lived in the same city, but had not met before the war.

War is not only about losses and anxiety, but sometimes it is also a motivation to learn something new and discover prospects for professional development. After leaving the Kharkiv clinic, Veronika remains in the profession, but expands the scope of her activities.

– Now I will work in a medical institution in the USA, research new medicines, and deepen my knowledge of genetics. I had a desire to do this even before the war, I applied for various jobs, but only now I had the opportunity to realize this intention.

Valentyna Travkina is a mother and wife, a radio engineer by profession, and a housewife before the war.

– My front of work here is unpacking and sorting. Bandages, antiseptics, children’s and adult medicines, hygiene products... All of this came in large trucks. And so that other members of my family, professional doctors, could sort the medicines in a proper way, I have to disassemble all these pallets and boxes.

Away from home, you start to love it even more. Communication with relatives and friends is maintained on a daily basis, and communication with Kharkiv residents is especially valuable. Kharkiv doctors and volunteers often find themselves in transit at the Committee, all of them are important links in the large chain of receiving and transferring aid to Ukraine from foreign partners.

– In the midst of my daily volunteer work, I have many reasons to be delighted with the people around me, with Ukrainians who are stalwart, courageous and determined. No one waits for anything, they just do it. Here I felt that we can do anything. I can help, learn new things, understand things I had no idea about before. And I am well aware that behind this is the desire to bring victory closer. Our common desire is the victory of Ukraine and returning home.

We see our volunteers every day, constantly communicate in joint chats about requests, shipments, logistics, etc., but it is difficult to talk about such topics without tears. But everyone believes that the tears of worry will definitely change into tears of joy because of the victory and returning home. The main thing is not to give up and find a place where we can be as useful and effective as possible.

This is just one of the stories about those who found themselves during the war.

To be continued…