Humanitarian Trucks

We mentioned in an earlier post that we played a part in the distribution of humanitarian aid in the Kerch area.  I think it is fitting to take a step back in the process if not chronologically.  We received another truck of aid items last Thursday and on Friday morning the customs agent had arrived, allowing us to actually open the trailer.  This particular shipment came from Sweden like the rest and contained clothes, toys and more medical equipment (beds, walkers, wheelchairs, motorized scooters, etc).  Below are some pics that Sarah took as we transfered everything from the truck to the storage building (at the Hope Center) where it was then sealed until customs returns to "unseal" it for us to distribute.

The banana boxes we are unloading above contain clothes and probably numbered in the thousands.  I know it looks like I'm trying to start an imaginary lawnmower, but I really did contribute to the process.  Most of the labor for the day was provided by IVA (vocational school) students.

It's tough to see but the two guys in the truck are Igor or "Hurcules" (L) and Dima (R), two former IVA students who now work and live at the camp with us.  The third person is a current student.

This is a shot of the building in which our materials will be sealed by customs and our electrician/engineer Yuri (known as Yura to distinguish him from Yuri the guard).

Of course Campbell had to get geared up and come out to see what all the excitement was about.  This is his common outfit for leaving the house and we still get castigated for not keeping him bundled enough (those are snow pants BTW).  I think their main issue is with the lack of a scarf, of which we have exactly zero.