Making a difference in Ukraine, one light at a time

On Sunday, February 23, 2025, an eager group of volunteers gathered at the Beaver Bay Com­munity Center to build Solar Light Kits for Ukraine. Greg Hanson – Thrivent, located in Beaver Bay, MN, purchased 100 Ray of Life so­lar light kits to be assembled for Ukraine. The light kits cost $125 a piece and Hanson used an allotted amount for nonprofit organizations that he is allowed spend. Thrivent matched those funds and donated $12,500 to New Horizons Foundation – USA.

Around 35 – 40 people of all ages showed up to lend a helping hand. The light kits consist of a solar light, a battery pack and a couple of adapters. When fully charged, they will last for 21 hours and can also be used to charge a cell phone. One hundred Ukrainian families will re­ceive the lights. Once assembly was complete and folks enjoyed a snack and drink provided by a Thrivent Action Team grant, they were packed up and sent to a warehouse located in Insanti, MN. Hand in Hand Logistics, a Minne­sota based 501(c) 3 organization created to fa­cilitate deliveries, is headed by Lee Schumann who runs the warehouse. He ensures everything is sorted, labeled, and packed for shipment to Ukraine by his many volunteers. Once properly packed, everything is loaded on trucks and then transported via ship to Ukraine. The lights will be leaving around March 1st. It will take lon­ger for them to get to Ukraine because they are being shipped by boat, but larger quantities can be sent since it’s much more cost effective than by plane.

I personally built 4 light kits. In the begin­ning they were a little difficult, however the second one was quite easy to make. Each com­pleted light kit included a personal message or drawing for the Ukrainian recipient. It was truly an honor to help and make a difference. When speaking with some of the people who attended, they said it was nice to be able to help out the people of Ukraine. Many people have wanted to help, yet didn’t know how to go about it. This was an opportunity to do a hands-on project that will provide light to desperate people that have been in darkness for a long time. The Ukrainian people are in desperate need and the volunteers felt very happy they could help out and show their support.

The Ray of Life lights that were built in Beaver Bay, MN, will be distributed in Zapor­izhzhia, Ukraine by the Mariupol Chaplain Bat­talion. Through donations, a van was purchased to assist with deliveries. A fire truck was also donated.

Dave Nonnemacher, who taught us how to make the Ray of Life Lights, is part of the New Horizons Foundation – USA (NHF-USA). He has been to Ukraine 5 times and will be return­ing again in April. He has personally seen the devastation and destruction and has spoke with people living in the ruble. They have told him their stories and the devastation they have ex­perienced.

NHF-USA exists to support the work of the New Horizons Foundation of Lupeni, Romania. NHF-USA has been focusing on and address­ing the critical needs in Ukraine due to the war. They work tirelessly to collect medical supplies, Fire Fighter gear, solar lights and other supplies. There are many people involved from all over the United States in order to make this possible. A church in California is very active in helping out the effort in Ukraine. In Petoskey, Michigan a team builds the battery units for the Ray of Life kits. Fire departments have to replace their fire equipment after a certain number of years, so the Lutsen, MN Fire Department is collecting turn­out fire gear. Seven hundred tourniquets were sewn at Cedaero in Two Harbors, MN. Lutsen Lutheran Church built 35 light kits. Residents of Philippi, West Virginia do all the pre-assembling of the light kits with the help and several local, older foster children that have aged out of their foster system.

Matter’s 360, a Minnesota based organization, is committed to re-purposing medical equipment and supplies to aid people and reduce landfill non-hazardous medical waste. Many medical supplies have an expiration date on them. If they are out of date by even a couple of days, they are disposed of. Matter’s 360 collects those sup­plies and other supplies that are being replaced. Many of those re-purposed supplies will be sent to Ukraine to help save lives. After the start of the war, one man built a complex/village called the Hanson Village. It is for displaced people who are fleeing from the ruins they once called their homes. Weekly food distribution and water filters are also being distributed as they become available. There are many efforts being made to assist the people of Ukraine.

Years ago, their lives were not that much un­like ours. And then, within hours, it would nev­er be the same. About 10 million people are ei­ther displaced, refugees, or dead in the country of Ukraine, according to Nonnemacher. “People need to know what’s happening in Ukraine,” mentioning how the generational trauma from this will be unbelievable. Nonnemacher has been to Ukraine 5 times and will be returning again in April. “I go and then I leave… I come home. They live with this every day.” Nonnemacher spoke about the people living with despair and destruction on a daily basis. Their homes have missile holes in them. He was warned to keep his head down to avoid being shot and because there were active military drones flying above. The residents have to continuously try and pro­tect themselves from the danger of the drones and other deadly weapons of war. Nonnemacher is still in communication with a handful of peo­ple almost daily from over there.

By helping out with these projects, donat­ing either time or money, you can show your support. $6.00 saves a life. Any size donation is very helpful. Educating yourself on what is really taking place in Ukraine can also help. It is important to understand the devastation and the impact it has had on their lives. Nonnemach­er told a story about one lady who had a piano she loved and the soldiers held her at gunpoint, then made her watch as they destroyed her pia­no. She, unfortunately, is not the only one who has endured this kind of cruelty, or worse. A good friend of Nonnemacher’s told him “The people in the west don’t understand the Rus­sian soul. The Russian soul is not about con­quest, it’s about destruction. Schools, hospitals, churches, businesses, and homes have all been destroyed.” Dave Nonnemacher provided us with an intimate glimpse of what is taking place in Ukraine from first hand knowledge and expe­riences. He showed our group a slideshow with actual videos of the people and the destruction in Ukraine.

If you would like to help the Ukrainians and make a difference, you can donate at http://givemn.org/organization/New-Horizons-Romania.   If you would like to raise money by holding a Ray of Life light making gathering, you can contact Dave at 218-626-7222 or email him at davenonnemacher@new-horizons.ro.  Keep in mind, the funds need to be raised in order to hold a light kit gathering. Kits are $125 ea. $6 saves a life. Any size donation helps. You can be part of bringing a little light and hope into their lives.