From Milwaukee To Poland: Friends Plan Supply Trip For Ukraine

MILWAUKEE, WI — A group of three friends, two of whom reside mainly in the Milwaukee area, are planning a trip to Poland in the coming weeks to deliver humanitarian supplies for Ukraine amid the continued Russian assault on the country.

As of May 3, the United Nations estimates about 5.6 million people have fled Ukraine to various countries, The BBC reported. Fighting and Russian bombardments on Ukraine have continued into May.

Like many in the United States, Greg Ryan has been watching the conflict unfold on the television, but by mid-May, he expects to be in Poland, witnessing first-hand pieces of the war's toll.

"Basically, we're three retired guys who have had a lot of fortune in our lives. And our schedules are flexible. And so we kind of just put together a plan to go over there and help the refugees," Greg Ryan told Patch on Wednesday ahead of his planned trip.

Ryan is planning the trip to Poland alongside his friends, Wisconsin-based Rob Grede and California-based Dale Wilson. The plan, once they land in Austria, is to rent a van, accumulate supplies, and deliver it all to Przemyśl, a city on the border between Poland and Ukraine, Ryan said.

Ryan has lived in the Milwaukee area for decades now. He told Patch that he resided in Shorewood for much of his time in the area before moving to Milwaukee proper about three years ago. He splits his time between Milwaukee and Nashville.

When the plan materialized, Ryan set up a fundraiser on GoFundMe with a goal of $5000. In one week, he managed to raise $7,272. The group will be using their own money to cover their travel expenses, and they've already booked flights for May 12, Ryan said.

"I have tons of stuff in my house already," Ryan said, "I am planning on packing my suitcases just full of tourniquets, water filters, and other things that they are in desperate need of, and hauling that stuff over there and giving it all away for free."

Other supplies the group plans to deliver include hygiene materials, such as toothbrushes and tampons, and ready-to-eat foods like energy bars, according to Ryan's GoFundMe.

"I hope to make at least a few people that are having the most horrible time in their lives, I hope to make their lives a little better," Ryan said. "If I can give them food, or hygiene materials, or things like water, or water filters, things to make their lives just a little easier."

The three friends will be flying out of individual airports and meeting in Vienna, Ryan said. The plan is to be there for a week.

For those looking to follow along, Ryan has created a Facebook group to document the journey called "Three Guys On A Mission."

More local stories on the Ukraine conflict from Patch:

Putin 'Responsible For Tragedies' In Ukraine: WI Politician

Wisconsin Ukrainian Community 'Shocked' After Invasion

Helping Ukrainian Loved Ones: Woman Sells Shirts To Raise Funds

GoFundMe is a Patch promotional partner.

Reporting by the Associated Press was used in this article.