Colorado Springs nonprofit raises money for the ongoing fight in Ukraine
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) - Several months into the war in Ukraine, a local nonprofit is continuing its efforts to raise money for non-lethal supplies to send to the country.
Fight Back for Ukraine, is a Colorado Springs and Geneva, Switzerland-based charity.
Since March of 2022, Fight Back for Ukraine says it has successfully carried out six delivery missions to Ukrainian State Emergency Service near the Ukraine border.
On Wednesday, July 13, Stellina Pizza hosted a fundraiser. The Colorado Springs co-founder Elfego Gomez III wants to share how citizens around the world and their contributions are making an impact in Ukraine.
So far, the charity has been able to send nearly 100 thousand dollars worth of equipment to soldiers in Ukraine.
The goal of Fight Back For Ukraine is to put vital, non-lethal equipment into the hands of Ukrainians fighting against Russia. It seems that people may have started to forget about the ongoing war but, organizers of the fundraiser say help is needed now more than ever.
"Our mission is to try to keep soldiers safe and alive. And we've been doing that by providing certain kinds of equipment, surveillance, reconnaissance, drones, and metal detectors for finding mines because the country now is littered with them and lots of people are being killed and maimed by them. We also provide thermal binoculars, so at night we can see if there's somebody out there,” Gomez remarked.
This vital equipment equipment isn’t cheap. It costs about 15 thousand dollars for each delivery. But, 100 percent of the money donated goes to purchasing supplies.
"Those folks that are contributing that they know it's going directly to some soldiers. It's not being handed off to somebody. And who knows where it goes… it's in some warehouse. I think that direct impact is why people continue to contribute,” says Gomez.
Those that attended the event said while it’s easy to get caught up in our own lives, we can’t forget about those suffering overseas.
Fight back for Ukraine is hosting another event on Sunday, July 24 at Ivywild school. Like tonight, a portion of the proceeds from the food and drink you buy will go to the non-profit.
To learn more about the charity, click here.
