This story is like a love letter going back and forth between Ukraine and Chilliwack.

Chad Martz of Chilliwack is heading back to Ukraine after Christmas to join his wife, Mary Martz, to continue their vital work distributing food and supplies in war-torn areas.

Their work is through Hungry for Life International, the Chilliwack-based Christian charity, where Chad is director of operations, and Mary is a project manager.

Ukraine, where Mary is originally from, is one of the 15 countries where Hungry for Life is active at the moment.

含羞草研究社淲e were there before the war, we are there during the war, and we含羞草研究社檒l be there long after the war,含羞草研究社� Chad says.

A Russian passport is what it would take to be allowed to purchase some things right now in Ukraine, and everything is crazy expensive.

含羞草研究社淪o things like a razor or deodorant or dish soap are very much in demand, in addition to food, but out of reach.含羞草研究社�

One disturbing image that含羞草研究社檚 stayed with him since the last trip was a street scene where some recently liberated Ukrainians seemed both 含羞草研究社渟o desperate, and so lifeless含羞草研究社� at the same time.

It含羞草研究社檚 hard for some to imagine in the West but many don含羞草研究社檛 have any food and there are no stores open.

There含羞草研究社檚 no light, no heat, no anything, he said.

含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檝e been part of food distribution efforts around the world, and it can get pretty chaotic when people are desperate, and Ukrainians are quite reserved about it. But this was the first time I had seen people literally running to our vehicles just to receive whatever we had. It wasn含羞草研究社檛 just food they were looking for it was basic necessities.含羞草研究社�

Using the family networks in Ukraine established with Mary含羞草研究社檚 large, musical family before the war, has been very successful to date for HFL, because they didn含羞草研究社檛 have to vet any of the support groups or church partners they含羞草研究社檝e been working with.

Consequently they have helped distribute a 含羞草研究社渟ignificant含羞草研究社� amount of resources across Ukraine, namely about 1,000 tons of food (more than 2 million pounds) which has helped so many thousands of people.

They bought food and supplies on the ground in Europe over the first four months of the war, to get the best bang for their donated buck. It was definitely cheaper than shipping North American goods.

They managed to complete 650 to 700 deliveries across Ukraine with the help of more than 40 partners, Martz said, continuing to tally their efforts.

They focused on the most in-demand food items like pasta, cooking oil, sugar, canned meat, and buckwheat. They tucked in cheese from Holland.

Overall, the support shown by those in the West in general, as well as from Chilliwack specifically through different types of charity fundraising, has not gone unnoticed.

In fact, it has given many a lift out of a very dark place.

When Chad was photographed chatting with a Ukrainian senior during the last trip, they had been discussing a community news item in The Chilliwack Progress. The story told of how Hampton House seniors had been involved in fundraising to help Ukrainians, just like her.

You could see by the expression on her face how this simple gesture affected her.

The kindness was so welcome. Just speaking to folks and reminding them that they had not been forgotten by the world, meant so much, Chad said.

含羞草研究社淚t shows that people are continuing to do what they can from this side, and to show them ladies of the same age that are in a retirement home who are trying to raise funds to help them, well it brings a huge amount of encouragement.含羞草研究社�

They含羞草研究社檙e living in bomb shelters with no heat, or power, and a very small amount of food. When handing out food and goods, the volunteers will often sing to offer encouragement, or just talk.

This type of encouragement is 含羞草研究社渁lmost as important as the actual food in itself,含羞草研究社� Chad said.

The consensus of many he spoke to was that they would 含羞草研究社渏ust not be here含羞草研究社� without the help from the West, whether it was military, humanitarian, financial support, or otherwise.

RELATED:

含羞草研究社淪o I would say not on behalf of myself, but on behalf of the Ukrainian people, what we含羞草研究社檝e been able to do collaboratively has made a significant difference in people含羞草研究社檚 lives like this.含羞草研究社�

To those who have contributed or donated to help Ukraine from Chilliwack and beyond, he wants everyone to know how appreciative they are for the help, with a deep sense of gratefulness.

含羞草研究社淚t seem so hollow of a word to use, but that really is it, being very grateful,含羞草研究社� he said.

The Ukrainians who have benefited have been lifted up during the darkest times of their lives.

含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 so encouraging to the people there and they have conveyed that to me over and over again.含羞草研究社�

RELATED:

Do you have something to add to this story, or a news tip? Email:
jennifer.feinberg@theprogress.com

Like us on and follow us on .