WARRENSVILLE HEIGHTS, Ohio — From the outside, all you can see is cardboard, but on in inside, these boxes are full of lifesaving materials headed directly to Ukraine.
"What we have going out right now will be shipped via sea," says Nadiya Petriv, a volunteer with the Cleveland Maidan Association.
The many pallets are filled with food, medical supplies and clothing, all donated to help people in Eastern Europe.
"It will be going from here to Poland," Petriv explained, "and then from there the container will be taken via rail from there to the border with Ukraine, and then from there it's currently going into Kyiv."
Once the containers reach Kyiv -- which the trucking company estimates could take four to six weeks -- the administration will distribute the materials further east, depending on the demand. During the shipment, the group will have access to live tracking to check on the container's progress.
Petriv says watching what is going on here in America is heartwarming, but also "bittersweet."
"Seeing how people are coming together to help is great," she added, "and when you are doing things and you are helping, you feel you are a part of something bigger."
Petriv immigrated to America when she was 5 years old, but goes back to Ukraine every other year to visit family. As of now, they are safe, but she is doing all she can to help them and the refugees.
"If I could do this and help any one person feel better for the day in Ukraine, I would be doing this all day, every day, without any second thought."
Meanwhile, across town, members of the multi-jurisdictional SWAT team East side Department Group Enforcement (EDGE) gathered old equipment to be sent overseas. Officer Joe Di Lillo Jr. from South Euclid says the equipment is going to good use.
"These items were no longer being used," he said, "and on a personal side of things, these officers were able to help out their family members back in Ukraine."
Helping Ukraine is what people here want to do.
"This is not the norm," Petriv noted. "It should never be the norm, but we want to make sure we do our part."
To see the Amazon wish list of items the association is needing, CLICK HERE.