Image: L. Gomes / PML / John Lowe is looking to collect items for victims in Ukraine.

By Laurice Gomes

Helping Ukraine

It takes a village: Chilliwack resident extends lifeline to Ukrainians on the front lines of war

Jul 5, 2022 | 3:51 PM

CHILLIWACK — John Lowe is a Canadian veteran who served in Afghanistan and is now lending a helping hand to war-stricken Ukraine.

“I’m a veteran. I served in Afghanistan,” Lowe said. “Essentially, when this all started, I was just getting very frustrated at home. I was very angry.”

Lowe said the connection he made to the situation was that when the U.S. left Afghanistan, there were a lot of things he wished he could have done more.

“My wife would comment on how moody and angry I was; I knew my own mental health was being affected by the images and the stories that we saw,” he said.

It was in those moments that Lowe decided something needed to be done, that he needed to somehow participate in making the situation in Ukraine better.

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“I literally just started by going to Pharmasave and saying ‘Hey, do you have any extra bandages you can give me?’ I had no idea what I was going to do,” he said, recalling the humble beginnings.

Lowe and his volunteers have been supplying individuals and groups in Ukraine with medical equipment and sometimes items such as camouflage clothing and boots. In fact, he personally travelled to Ukraine over a month ago to deliver the items.

“I went with 26 suitcases on a passenger flight,” he said. “I dropped off all the medical supplies with my contact there. His name is Roman.”

Lowe explained that Roman is a Calgarian in Ukraine.

“This all happened over Facebook,” he elucidated. “How all these connections were made, everything has been from one person to another.”

Presently, Lowe said he received a request from a hospital in Ukraine requesting 1,000 crutches.

“It’s going to be hard to achieve that goal,” he said. “Crutches, if we can get them, wheelchairs, basically any kind of home care like knee braces, slings, anything to do with any kind of long-term injury.”

Lowe is optimistic about the Chilliwack community stepping up to the challenge and remarked that a difference could be made.

Image: L. Gomes / PML / Some items donated by a Chilliwack resident.

“There are literally volunteers who three months ago were bus drivers,” he said, referring to Ukrainian civilians on the battlefield. “And they’re on the frontlines right now fighting, and they need everything.”

The Canadian veteran said that seeing the results of people in Chilliwack supporting people in Ukraine, has created some sense of resolution for him.

“Our mission in Afghanistan ended with a lot of open questions,” he said. “That has closed a chapter in my life and it’s opened a new door.”

People looking to donate to the cause can email Lowe at jclowe@gmail.com.