Seward Rotarians and residents, thanks to the generosity of Jones Bank and the Wake Charitable Foundation, raise more than $15,000 in donations and medical supplies to support relief efforts in Ukraine
In response to the deepening humanitarian crisis in Ukraine stemming from Russia’s invasion of the country, the Seward Rotary Club has raised more than $15.000 from members of the Seward community and Seward Rotarians to support the worldwide relief efforts for Ukraine underway by Rotary. These funds will be used provide water, food, shelter, medicine, and clothing to refugees and other victims of the crisis. Funds collected were generously matched by Jones Bank, the Wake Charitable Foundation, Seward Rotary Club, and Rotary International District 5650.
A highlight of the effort was provided by Memorial Health Care System, which responded with a pickup full of all new medical supplies which was donated to the Ukraine War effort and presented to the Seward Rotary by Jane Rehmer, Executive Director of the Seward Memorial Health Care Foundation. Rotary District 5650 Governor Carol Horner of Council Bluffs drove to Seward herself to transport the pickup load of supplies to the warehouse in Omaha to be prepared to send to Ukraine. Seward Rotarians Jon and Bonnie Kruse visited the Rotary District warehouse and saw firsthand the 50 tons of medical supplies gathered by Rotary District 5650 to send to the Ukraine.
On Thursday, April 8, 2022, a plane loaded with 50 tons of medical supplies collected by Rotarians throughout District 5650 departed Omaha’s Eppley Airfield destined for Ukraine left for Illinois, where another 50 tons were added and shipped to Poland.
The pallets are now secured by the Ukrainian Ministry of Health and they are safely on their way to Ukraine. Due to security reasons, once the medical aid is safe and sound in hospitals, more details will be given on where it was distributed.
“We want to thank everyone for making this happen,” stated Jon Kruse-Seward Rotary Club Foundation Co-Chair. “ We offer special thanks to the Jones Bank, Wake Foundation and the Seward Rotary membership, along with the many members of the community that stepped up to help these people in the Ukriane. Special thanks also to the wonderful leadership at Seward Memorial Health Care for the donations of new supplies-it was such an impressive statement of concern. We are humbled by such generosity in our area as we work to live the Rotary motto of Service Above Self! Thank you Seward!”