Wishing VikkiDP a happy birthday from all of the Grassroots Dorks. We hope the coming year will bring some hope and light to you and appreciate all that you do for those in need.
Wishing VikkiDP a happy birthday from all of the Grassroots Dorks. We hope the coming year will bring some hope and light to you and appreciate all that you do for those in need.
Well, I'm glad somebody was paying attention... Yes, happy birthday! The world is a better place because of you. 
Ohhh, guys!!! Thank you SO MUCH!!!
your wishes... it touched my heart
Hello everyone!!!
You know, there are so many things I'd like to share with you and i need(ummm... actually, i HAVE TO 
) to write about (I still haven't written my part of the story of the last trip) 
I just don't have enough time to do all the things I'd like to do But someday... someday... i believe that... we believe that 
aaanddd now the prep for the X-mas run has begun 
and the moms messages make me cry again it's important for them and their kids to feel supported
Let me share something with you
Do you remember Carolina? that girl who wished for Christmas pajamas as a gift on our first X-mas trip?
this time she wished Christmas-printed linens to my response that we remember those pajamas, i got this
-translation-
we not only remember(the pajamas), but we wear them with pleasure. Thank you so much!!!
*for a reminder - Carolina and her pajamas (December 2022)
And another message from another mom
in response to my question about what her sons wanted as a gifts, i got this message
-translation-
Thank you so much. I wish you all Peaceful skies and good health. thank you so much that there are still people like you out there. My family people have become strangers to me, and I didn't even think that strangers would become more like family than my own relatives.
Well, we'll just keep doing what we're doing and thank you guys for your support
Have a good time!!!
Aw!!!! It's funny because I always remember Carolina as our "bag girl". She had asked for a backpack in that first run (along with the pajamas) and if you remember my mom and grandmother were out here helping us prepare for the trip. At the time we couldn't decide which of those two bags to send her, so we just bought both! 
Hey everyone, it's been a while since we've posted an update. Unfortunately I'm juggling the Hungarlings right now and can't do a proper one, but let's see if I can't touch on the major bases.
First, we had a donor from the Kyiv Independent reach out to us. He had just received his year-end bonus and wanted to know if anyone needed a power supply. Well... Dr. Julia could ALWAYS use such a thing!
1800 watts peak, 1440 watt-hours rated, this beast of a power station will run a starlink and a fair number of laptops for more hours than they have daylight in Ukraine right now!
Out the other side of that donation, VikkiDp informed me that we still had $1400 left over from that person (Arctic Raven if you're on the Kyiv Independent Discord server), and Yaroslav (our adopted drone pilot) REALLY needs a pickup truck to get their #1 drone out and into the field.
We tried reaching out to Pickup4Ukraine, but it turns out that actually going through the proper channels involves a LOT more red tape and wait time than volunteering in person does. We still have our fingers crossed they'll be able to come through for his unit. Taking matters into our own hand, we decided to use our remaining $1400 to see if a truck was in our future, we started searching on any local channel we could find. Pickups at that price point out here are absolute hens teeth (triple the price is closer to normal), but somehow we managed to find TWO of the damn things for sale in the area. Neither are going to win at the next car show, but both are reportedly in working condition (and both have papers). Unfortunately at this point we have more questions than answers as to how to cross the border and legally import such a thing, but this is what is occupying most (if not "ALL") our brain power right now.
In addition to that, we're starting to receive gifts for our soldier's care packages. This is what arrived today, and there's at least on more package on the way!
And of course the Rehabilitation center isn't yet sorted. We know you guys are waiting and we've 100% reached out, but those poor guys are just so damn busy trying to fix what was hit, we haven't been able to shore up everything we need to pull the trigger on the donation drive. This is also still being worked on, and we're stongly considering just showing up with cash in hand.
But of course, there is also the GoFundMe. We have 4-days left on that badboy, but I'm, strongly considering keeping it open a few days longer (given everything that's happening right now). We did make our first purchase though. Above you'll of course remember Carolina. In the picture below we were thinking of Dariya, and those Harry Potter blankets that we sent her. If you remember, her mom thanked us and told us that she and her brother take those down to the shelter with them when they go...
When Mrs. Hungary and I spotted this plush in a store we were shopping in, the both of us immediately thought it might make a good addition to those blankets. Neither one of us ever considered the idea that Dariya and her brother would be sheltering in the city at that exact moment in time. An apartment, a store, and several houses were reported hit in that round of strikes. I'm seeing various reports that four people were killed and 21 more were injured.
I know it's a lot right now, but we're chewing through it. Stay tuned, everyone.
holy balls, I almost forgot!
A coworker randomly came in the office with a metric fork ton of bandages!!!!
Dr. Julia's already been contacted, and is anxiously awaiting their arrival.
I'm sure it's already been thought of and rejected for some very valid and obvious to everybody but me reasons, but on the truck front... What are the rules around 'loaning' vehicles across borders, without fully transferring ownership?
Driven5 said:I'm sure it's already been thought of and rejected for some very valid and obvious to everybody but me reasons, but on the truck front... What are the rules around 'loaning' vehicles across borders, without fully transferring ownership?
The two issues are maintaining insurance (it's not like the US, and really can not be allowed to lapse), and ultimate ownership of the vehicle (especially should the vehicle become disabled somewhere other than the front). If we run into either issue, it may create problems that stop us from entering the country again in the future.
I know from our point of view, we know the truck is needed and we know where it's going (so you would THINK the process would be easy), but there are more than a fair number of reports of donated vehicles landing in the hands of (less than scrupulous) people staffing the rear areas and then those vehicles being used for nothing more than beer runs (some have ended up in alcohol related incidents which then fell on the onus of the registered owner). From the border-guard's point of view, they have no way of knowing where in the military the truck is going to end up, so they err on the side of "strict interpretation of the law".
The few, as they usually seem to do, have ruined it for everyone else.
We got a message today from one of the moms!
Back when buying things for the last run, I remember we were looking at jackets and were leaning toward the cheaper stores (in an effort to buy more of them). Ultimately, we decided the quality of those cheaper items was not up to snuff and instead punched out to a store called C&A. The jackets we ended up buying were a bit more expensive (but not by as much as we were expecting), but the quality and materials were MANY times better.
Today, we got this message:
Translated: "We are very pleased with the jacket. It is super warm. Thank you very much!"
That looks like money well spent!
TRoglodyte said:That looks like money well spent!
Honestly, seeing that photo. I can't believe we were even considering the cheaper jackets now. That message warmed ME up!
Ok, everyone. Message received!!!
The last couple of days my paypal has been the target of your donations, and Vikki and I are finally taking the hint. No, the rehab center has not gotten back to us (and we don't want to be too pushy, with everything going on). But if we have to hand them an envelope full of cash in person, then that's what we're going to do 
There is $350 of your money sitting in the paypal account right now, and anything else you guys send will go directly in that envelope. Address is the @gmail.com address we all know and love.
Now if you'll excuse me, I've gotta go find this berk-hole who's cutting onions in my damn office.
Absolutely LOVE you guys!
\m/
Another announcement: we have prizes to give away!
It's a little bit astonishing what all of us have done, and I think it is time to recognize the efforts and contributions people have made. With that in mind, I am giving away some super-cool, Ukrainian-made mechanized wooden model kits from Ugears. Call them prizes or call them presents, but call now.
Anyone who contributes, or has already contributed, to any Dnipro Express campaign on this run (launch date 15 December) is eligible to win, so please donate if you haven't yet!
Three donors chosen at random will win a model from the Age of Bravery series:
Second prize - and I'm still trying to figure out how the winner is chosen, but I'll iron that out soon - will receive The Tractor Wins. This chunky 272-piece kit has opening doors and hood and a wind-up mechanism inside that shakes the engine as it drags the disabled enemy tank off the field. I love this one as it really embodies the tenacity and determination of ordinary people doing extraordinary things.
Finally, the donor of the largest contribution to this run will receive the astonishing Ghost of Kyiv. Attempting to fumble through an adequate description would be an injustice. Let's just let the video do the talking.
It is hard to believe that you have all kept this operation moving for so long. It's a lot to ask, and yet somehow Bill ends up with a truck full of stuff, time after time. Thank you all for rising to the occasion and making it possible.
If you haven't yet contributed to the current run in one way or another, it's a damn good time to do it. And if you have, thank you.
Good luck!
Слава Україні!
In reply to DarkMonohue :
Oh man, thank you TONS for hosting that!!! And I couldn't possibly share the sentiment enough. How in the world has a group of feral mechanics kept this darn machine moving for so darn long???? I still can't think of a better word than "amazing" to describe you all
Ok I do have a bit of a Monday update for you all.
Paypal is still open and an option. we currently have $450 sitting in there right now. All cash will be put in an envelope and driven to the front porch of the Rehab Center (VikkiDp has warned them we are coming, so they are prepared).
GoFundMe is still open, but only because I was out of town last weekend and haven't had a chance to close it. I'm a bit too busy (and hopeful) today to do it now. It's sitting at $1325 which is JUST under what we collected for our August run. I'm making the comparison because on that run we also ran gifts and hobby type stuff to our children. So if it was possible then, then it's possible now
Regarding the truck:
I'll admit I've been getting a bit complacent lately. The darn thing has been running without complaint, so I haven't really touched it since.... Heck. I think our last issue was that battery wire! Unfortunately, this also includes not touching the "routine maintenance" portion of things, and on that front I'm falling a bit behind.
A rock chip in the windshield last week brought those items back to front and center, as I'm going to have to get it taken care of soon before it turns into a crack. With that, I went out and bought some oil, a filter, an air filter, and new belts. Also on the list is a valve adjustment.
It's been over 10,000kms since our trip to Tunisia, and that means it's been about that long since the last oil change. I have no idea when the valves were adjusted last, but it's been about a year with the wheels spinning non stop. The belts are dry and cracked (the power steering belt is a little loose). And I don't think I've changed the air filter since the Bamako run...
Well. Today I forced myself outside and got to catchin' back up!
Oil, oil filter, and air filter: Check!
Good times!
Oh, I almost forgot: We added another social media site to our list of things we have to manage!
@DniproExpress on Bluesky, if you're on there:
Our grand prize just rocked up!
DarkMonohue said:Our grand prize just rocked up!
I LOVE that Ugear set!!
I had some quick updates as well:
The first is, I've been frantic and didn't have time to close the fundraiser to donations so it ended up running two days longer than it was supposed to.
The second is, those two days netted us over $700 in donations!!!! We got the list of "wishes" from the kids, and Mrs. Hungary is out shopping RIGHT NOW for the items on it.
(by the way: Inside that $700? 80% of it was GRM. You guys berkin' ROCK!)
OK, next up: You guys might remember that both before and during our last run there was a mother near Kyiv who had a child with brain cancer. She asked for a bit of help in the way of pet food (as she was constantly busy with appts and couldn't always get to the pet food store). We sent some from Vikki in Dnipro, and I ran a bit in the truck when I visited, but I digress.
There was a hand-written sign I spotted on a shop where we usually buy food for our doggos. It was advertising 10kg (22lbs) of dog food for like $10. I was on my way to pick up the Hungarlings from school, but couldn't let that opportunity pass.
I figured this would be a nice "Christmas reminder" that we haven't forgotten about her. Being a busy (and expensive) time of year for everyone, this might give her a much needed (and unexpected) break.
Last and definitely not least:
So, corny story but I got “employee of the month” at work (read: It was my turn). This means that I get to park “front and center” outside our building (which is nice in and of itself).
Well, someone from the adjacent building saw the truck and found me. Short story long, Dr. Julia’s been needing a 5kw generator for nothing short of a year now.
Well, said person just placed an order for a 7.5kw generator. It should be here by the 16th!!!
We're still working out the details, but it's looking like we're going to be tossing this in the truck for Dr. Julia on our Christmas run!!!
Fingers crossed, y’all.
Oh, shoot: Collective advice needed!
What can I do on this side of the border to make this diesel generator as "maintenance free" as possible.
Do these things come with break-in oil or something, is there a break-in period that I can get this thing through so Dr. Julia can just fire it up and just RUN with it?
What about Long-Life oils? Mobile 1 Super 2000 (10W40) and Super 3000 (5W40) are both available here. The former seems better rated for a diesel, but the latter comes with a ridiculously long life rating (I'm seeing as high as 30,000miles, or 1yr). Super 1000 is also available, but being mineral based I wasn't sure how long it'd last under continuous use.
Thoughts very much appreciated.
Great results from the paypal/go-fund-me, Bill! That's awesome :)
No advice on the diesel thing... I thought that was the whole point of a diesel, throw rocks and sand in it and it'll run forever.
WonkoTheSane said:Great results from the paypal/go-fund-me, Bill! That's awesome :)
No advice on the diesel thing... I thought that was the whole point of a diesel, throw rocks and sand in it and it'll run forever.
Hey, many thanks! On the paypal front, I do have some updates coming here shortly. We should be getting the info we need sometime tonight.
I'm hoping you're right about the diesel. I'm still in "kerosene lamp" territory when the lights go out (and love it). I've never owned a generator in my life!
Hi everyone!!!
First and most important!!! THANK YOU ALL!!!
Thanks to you all miracles in the midst of madness continue to happen and it's just INCREDIBLE and GREAT!!!
At this point, I'm crying... I'm allowed to...
If we can make just one child smile and believe in miracles... just know - it worth it!!!
but how many beers Bill and I will need after it's done, I even have no idea
In reply to Hungary Bill (Forum Supporter) :
Well, said person just placed an order for a 7.5kw generator. It should be here by the 16th!!!
We're still working out the details, but it's looking like we're going to be tossing this in the truck for Dr. Julia on our Christmas run!!!
Fingers crossed, y’all.
I still can't believe that it happened... i'm still in shock... it's just... WOOOOWWWW!!!!
Fingers crossed and toes too
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