Ukraine Humanitarian Fund 2024-2025 Winterization Complete

On February 28th, GER3 concluded its UHF 2024-2025 Winterization program!
The program exceeded initial targets by aiding 2,638 beneficiaries and supporting 1,058 households.

Activities included:
- Insulation of substandard homes (doors & window replacement, ceiling insulation)
- Firewood distribution

The intention of this project was to aid vulnerable households within oblasts on the Ukrainian frontline and northern border. GER3 services promoted energy efficiency and overall warmth within homes to better withstand the harsh Ukrainian winters. Our services minimized heating costs for beneficiaries, reducing the financial burden during the strained Ukrainian wartime economy.

We are thankful for the help of our implementing partner, District One Foundation, and we are excited to continue Ukrainian operations in 2025!

Bomb Shelter Construction: Pryluky Education and Rehabilitation Center

GER3 is excited to share that we have begun bomb shelter construction for the Pryluky Education and Rehabilitation Center, located in the Chernihiv Oblast. The shelter will provide 59 disabled children, their teachers, and the Center's staff with a safe space to shelter during air raid attacks.

The Pryluky Center educates and supports children (ages 1st-4th grade) with mental and physical disabilities. 29 children live full time at the Center, either because they are orphaned or require full-time assistance. These 29 children now sleep in the basement to avoid excess stress resulting from sleep disturbance/movement in the case of an air raid. The prior shelter was damp, lacked ventilation and bathrooms, and had no exits with disability access.

GER3 began construction on the shelter in October. Our services will provide:

• Ventilation

• Water Supply, Sewage, and Bathrooms

• Heating System

• Anti-Radiation Doors

• Hydro-Isolation

• Two Exits, One with Disability Access

We are excited to share more reports as this project continues!

PPE & Property Reclamation Material Distribution: Altadena, CA

Last weekend, GER3 distributed PPE and property reclamation materials at three distribution centers across Altadena. Our materials reached over fifty families on just Saturday morning alone, as former residents are anxious to return to reclaim what is left at their homes after the devastating Altadena fire.

Materials included:

• Hazmat Suits

• Soil Sifters

• Protective Face Masks and Gloves

• Rakes and Shovels

• Shoe Covers, Gloves, and Coveralls

LA Wildfires: Program Development Underway

GER3 has been active on the ground in LA this week, engaging in assessments and response planning. Program development is underway, targeting livelihood support, rehabilitation of key community spaces and longer term resiliency efforts.

The team has visited many communities, including Altadena and Pasadena, and spoken directly with affected people, partners and agencies who are providing key services.

Additional details to come!

LA Wildfires: GER3 on the Ground

Over the past days, GER3 deployed to and began assessments throughout the Los Angeles area in response to the various wildfires which have destroyed great swaths of the Californian community. The team has met with a variety of actors, including World Central Kitchen, various Red Cross and fire department contacts, and local community members to best understand the most pressing needs of the area. 

We will continue to update our progress, and we would be grateful for any and all donations in support of our LA efforts.

The donation link is here: https://www.ger3.org. Thank you!

UHF Kherson Home Repairs

In the past three months, GER3 has completed repairs at 240 war-damaged households in the Kherson Oblast as apart of our UHF-funded efforts! Before and after comparisons are below!

Repairing windows, doors, and roofs, GER3 has benefited 537 vulnerable community members in the Velykooleksandrivska and Kalynivska hromadas. We are excited to continue our UHF-funded work into the new year!

UHF Winterization Underway

GER3's Winterization Project, sponsored by the UN's Ukraine Humanitarian Fund has begun! And what better way to announce than with International UN Day!

Targeting the Chernihivska, Sumska, and Kersonska Oblasts, GER3 is committed to insulating 200 households and providing heating supplies to 800 households for the upcoming winter months. The highlighted pictures are from the recent home assessments and supply of firewood to homes in Kherson Oblast.

Ukrainian winter temperatures average between 17°F - 24°F, and as frequent airstrikes target energy facilities, the provision and maintenance of reliable heating is crucial for Ukrainian families.

Ukraine Geriatric Centers Supplies Deliveries

Special Delivery!

GER3's Ukraine team recently delivered over $20,000 of hygiene supplies to the Chernihiv and Krolevlets geriatric centers. The supplies (diapers and napkins) are equivalent to six months' worth for both centers.

This delivery expands GER3's presence in Ukraine's healthcare sector, as we are also in the process of supplying over $117,000 worth of equipment to Zakarpatska Oblast Clinical Hospital.

At GER3, we seek to aid the most vulnerable community members in each country we serve. The centers currently serve a combined 581 people, both disabled and elderly. Out of the 152 persons of Krolevets geriatric center, 59 are recent transfers due to their prior center being destroyed near the Russian border.

We thank the staff and patients of the geriatric centers for their warm welcome of our team into their communities. We look forward to continuing this partnership, as well as other new endeavors, in the coming months.

Midpoint Markers: Phase IV of Abaco Home Rehabilitation and Capacity Building Project

We are pleased to announce that our Abaco team has completed the rehabilitation of 11/22 homes of Phase IV: Abaco Home Rehabilitation and Capacity Building Project!

With 11 homes complete, we now have 6 under construction and 5 with materials on site.

We also are pleased to report the tremendous success of our Cash For Work team. Our team has dedicated over 25,470 hours of labor to Phase IV, earning more than $400,445.56 in wages. Additionally, the skills of countertop construction, cutting, and installation have been specifically developed over the past month of work; these trades will serve our Cash for Work team well in their pursuits when our work concludes on Abaco.

Please enjoy the selected photos of our most recent work, and we look forward to sharing more updates as the process continues!

New GER3 Initiative: Medical Rehabilitation Equipment Supply

GER3's Ukraine team is pleased to share its new project of supplying $117,246.35 worth of rehabilitation equipment to Zakarpatska Oblast Clinical Hospital!

This clinical hospital is the largest in the Zakarpatska Oblast, with 537 beds and 900 staff members. GER3 is providing vital rehabilitation equipment for its many patients, especially with the influx of injuries sustained in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

Examples of the equipment GER3 has already and will continue to provide are:

- 1 Electromyography (EMG) System

- 2 GH3 Ceiling Hoist Systems

- 2 Physiotherapy Complexes

- 2 Rehabilitation Treadmills

- 1 EMS Linear Stepper

- And more!

GER3 is excited to continue the supply of equipment to Zakarpatska Oblast Clinical Hospital, and we look forward to new projects on our horizon!