Body armor from Virginia law enforcement to be sent to Ukraine to help those on frontlines - WSET

LYNCHBURG, Va. (WSET) – Ukrainians are in a desperate fight against Russia to save their country, and now law enforcement is joining their effort.

Nearly 500 pieces of body armor stacked inside the Lynchburg Sheriff's Office are making a difference for those sharing stories like Ilona Penner.

"You know the situation is very difficult and you know," she said with tears in her eyes.

Penner moved to the United States when she was 15 and she is now working as a security officer at Liberty University.

Her 20-year-old cousin, Sasha, who's like a brother, is in Ukraine fighting.

"This is affecting him a lot and to see him change, you know, it breaks my heart," she said.

Her cousin and his friends don't have a lot of protective equipment on the frontlines, but now, agencies from Virginia are donating equipment.

The agencies helping include: The Lynchburg Sheriff's Office, Campbell County Sheriff's Office, Amherst County Sheriff's Office, Liberty University Police Department, Blue Ridge Regional Jail Authority, Hurt Police Department, Harrisonburg Police Department, Fredericksburg Sheriff's Office and Central Virginia Criminal Justice Training Academy.

Vests, helmets and sweaters that they no longer need are all going to Ukraine.

"This is just a small part of what we're able to do and I'm honored to even be a part of it," said Sheriff Donald Sloan.

The organization behind this is Lift Up Ukraine.

It was created less than 30 days ago.

"This organization works directly with Ukrainians and aid workers who are in desperate need of body armor, armor panels, and carriers, as well as any other necessary equipment and supplies as their country undergoes one of the worst attacks since World War II," according to a press release from the sheriff's office.

At the Lynchburg Sheriff's Office, they Skyped in Boryspil's assistant mayor to show him the armor coming to his city. Boryspil is just 10 miles outside of Kviv.

"More than 200 children are killed by Russian bombs and our task is to protect our people surviving in the country," said assistant mayor Vadym Triukhan.

But to know, that from more than 5,000 miles away, people in Lynchburg are keeping those in Ukraine in their hearts and prayer means so much to those like Penner.

"But all we have left is just going day by day and just you know pray. Pray and, you know, just stay strong for them," said Penner.

The equipment got picked up on Tuesday morning to be brought to New Jersey. From there it will be flown to Poland and then brought to Ukraine.

There will be another pick-up next Tuesday, April 5, at 10:30 a.m. at the Sheriff's Office on Clay Street in Lynchburg.

source: https://wset.com/news/local/body-armor-from-law-enforcement-getting-sent-to-ukraine-to-help-those-on-frontlines

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