Ed Dickson couldn’t believe his eyes when he saw what was happening in the country he has called home for 25 years.
As overseas director for Chatham-based Loads of Love Humanitarian Aid and Mission Society, he returned to Canada from Kyiv just last week.
He admits he’s still coming to grips with the reality of the situation.
“When I was there, nobody, 99 per cent per of the people including me, ever dreamed that Russia would invade,” he said in an interview. “We just felt it was complete madness. Insanity. It’s really tough right now.”
Dickson said his family came back to Canada last summer for school purposes, but called Ukraine a place like no other, crediting its citizens for their strength and resilience.
Now, his mind is with those still serving on the ground.
Load of Love has 40 full-time workers in the country, with the organization offering various programs, as well as helping out orphans and children with special needs.
However, they try to provide assistance to whoever they can.
“Even through the pandemic, we were helping people with groceries,” Dickson said. “We provided 10,000 families with groceries last year. It’s a really big effort going on there.”
Throughout the invasion, he’s been in regular contact with his leaders, saying he’s thankful that communication and funding channels are still open.
Dickson added they don’t plan on going anywhere at this point.
“Ninety per cent of our workers are saying, ‘Ed, we’re staying in place, We’re supposed to be here to help people right now,” he said.
“I’m in tears, literally. They’re real heroes. They’re like David standing in front of Goliath right now. …I’m so impressed with what they’re doing.”
With his farming background in Leamington, Dickson initially traveled to Ukraine for an agricultural conference and fell in love with the country.
“The place just struck me so hard in my heart,” he said. “Everyone has this once in a lifetime experience where you decide are you going to follow your heart?”
From there, he became involved in humanitarian work and never looked back, adding he’s “never regretted a minute.”
Given the transportation and shipping uncertainty, Dickson said the best thing people can do right now is make a monetary donation, which will go to such needs as food, medicine and other supplies.
“Thank God we can get money through right now,” he said. “I’m not sure how long that’s going to stay open, how long the banks are going to be open, how long that system is going to be working.”
The community has also been coming through so far, he added, with many people reaching out.
“It’s unbelievable,” Dickson said. “It makes me so proud of Canadians. It really shows the character.”
For more information on the organization, or to donate, visit www.loadsoflove.org