In early March, images circulated showing the realities many Ukrainians with disabilities endured as they fled their homes. Many were escaping a war zone on the backs of their family members, crossing the border in wheelbarrows, or hiding in the basement of their houses and apartments because bomb shelters were not wheelchair accessible. The UN estimated, 2.7 million Ukrainians with disabilities felt excluded from humanitarian aid and that they were seen as too low of a number to be a priority.

We see them as a priority and know the positive impact that mobility devices can have on people’s lives. These images sparked action to provide wheelchairs and assistive devices to those most in need.

As the war continues, the need has, sadly, only increased, which is adding further stress to supply chains and organizations on the ground providing support. Many of these items are expensive to purchase and ship.

RollUp Solutions has provided low-cost wheelchairs to the London, Ontario area since students founded it at Western University in July 2017 and is still run by students at Western University to this day, powered by support from Goodwill Industries, Ontario Great Lakes.

Ability Through Action is a non-profit created by two Toronto Metropolitan University students with disabilities, Kelsea MacKay and Patrick Lloyd, in response to the critical need they observed in Ukraine.

From the partnership between these student-led organizations and Goodwill Industries, Ontario Great Lakes, Roll Up for Ukraine was born. The goal is to provide 1,000 wheelchairs and other mobility devices, such as rollators, walkers and canes, to Ukrainians needing mobility assistance devices.

Funds raised will cover the cost of shipping the devices to Europe. Every $125 donated equals one high-quality, fully up-cycled wheelchair arriving in Ukraine.

Once they are in Europe, our partners, including several non-profit and charity organizations working directly on the ground in Ukraine, will distribute the devices to the areas and individuals most in need.

These organizations include:

Nova Ukraine: https://novaukraine.org/

Vostok SOS: https://vostok-sos.org/en/

Fight For Right: https://ffr.org.ua/

BGV Charity Fund: https://bgvfund.org

If you would like to directly donate a device as well, please visit: https://www.rollupsolutions.com/donate-equipment

Our Websites:

RollUp Solutions: https://www.rollupsolutions.com

Ability Through Action: https://www.abilitythroughaction.com

Goodwill Industries: https://goodwillindustries.ca

Enactus:https://enactus.ca/

Thank you for your support!