PLEASANT HILL – When disaster strikes, volunteers with nonprofit group White Pony Express step up, so when Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began Feb. 24, help was the first thing on every volunteer’s mind – including members of the Tesla Owners East Bay club.
“Between 80 to 90 members of the Tesla Owners East Bay (TOEB) met on March 13 in Alameda, where they partnered with White Pony Express (WPE) to collect critical relief supplies for Ukrainian refugees,” said Walnut Creek’s Steve Spraitzar, a WPE volunteer for the last eight years. “At the request of WPE, the Tesla owners delivered much needed medical supplies such as vinyl gloves, bandages and medicines.”
Alvin Shen, who co-founded TOEB in 2019 with Wilmer Awayan, said this cause is personal for Peggy Wolf, one of their leadership team members.
“While Peggy does not currently have relatives in Ukraine, her grandparents fled oppression in Ukraine in the late 1800s,” said Shen, of Lafayette. “It is not OK for this to happen again!”
With WPE’s Vincent Road distribution center in Pleasant Hill, the organization was started in 2013 by Dr. Carol Weyland Conner and partners with other local nonprofits and businesses to provide food, goods and medical supplies to those in need.
“Our work is to give all we can, in all the ways we can, to all the people we can,” said Eve Birge, WPE’s executive director, in a March 10 statement. “With the support of our community, we can provide essential items for our friends from Ukraine who are in desperate need. There is enough abundance in our county to make a significant contribution to this effort. Our organization was built to gather this abundance and distribute it. “
Spraitzar concurs with that and says founder Conner’s mission is consistent with WPE’s Project Ukraine.
“Those of us volunteering at WPE have embraced the belief instilled in us by our founder, Dr. Carol Weyland Conner, that at our core we are all united as members of one human family, ”he said. “I am inspired every day by Dr. Conner’s strong belief that we must do all we can to help as many people as we can who are suffering. In less than a month, millions of Ukrainians are now suffering terribly. They need help desperately. We have to help them. “
Spraitzar, an attorney retired from a Bay Area firm that specializes in customs law, said WPE staff are expecting another donation soon from the Tesla Owners East Bay club.
“TOEB has one more donation event lined up for WPE as they await the arrival of approximately $ 1,500 worth of medicine and other pharmaceutical products, which they plan to caravan to WPE for delivery,” said Spraitzar. “Aside from that, TOEB will be encouraging the public to consider donating directly to, or purchasing items from, their Amazon wish list for WPE.”
Future events and drives to aid Ukrainians in their capital of Kyiv and in Poland will continue, with dates and locations to be determined, he said. Isa Campbell, of Walnut Creek, is the co-director of WPE’s Project Ukraine. Campbell is a retired organizational psychologist for the Federal Aviation Administration and said that these volunteer efforts move her.
“It warms my heart that White Pony Express is marshaling its efforts to send badly needed supplies to Ukraine,” she said. “We are thrilled that TOEB was the first organization to step up after we put out our call for donations. It was touching and heartwarming. The group responded so spontaneously with their support! It was a pleasure collaborating with them. “
TOEB co-founder Shen, who is also the owner and general manager of Best Coast Burritos in Emeryville and Rockridge, said his club members help whenever they can.
“We have previously hosted food drives for local food banks, collected supplies for animal shelters and raised donations for the Myocarditis Foundation and more,” Shen said. “We plan to caravan several Teslas to WPE for delivery (after receiving the $ 1,500 worth of medicine and other pharmaceutical products). As humans, we need to help each other! “
As each day passes and the Russia-Ukraine conflict continues, Campbell feels the urgent need for help.
“Speed is of the essence,” she said. “One really can’t do too much, can one? Like TOEB, lets just ‘do it’ and support those suffering in Ukraine. Please participate by going to www.whiteponyexpress.org. “
Charleen Earley is a freelance writer and journalism professor at Foothill and Diablo Valley colleges. Reach her at charleenbearley@gmail.com or 925-383-3072.
It’s help
Nonperishable food donations (not in glass jars), medical supplies, brand new clothing, shoes and toiletries can be dropped off with no appointment necessary from 9 am to 4 pm seven days a week at the White Pony Express distribution center, 3380 Vincent Road, # 107, in Pleasant Hill.
For a list of requested supplies and to learn about donating and volunteering, visit whiteponyexpress.org/supportukraine. For more information, contact Merry Dempsey at merrydempsey@whiteponyexpress.org or 925-322-0604, ext. 139.
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