MACON, Ga. — The war in Ukraine has been going on for a year now, and Russia continues to strike Ukraine with missiles and bombs.
As of last month, the death toll is at 27,149.
But for one nonprofit, they sent hundreds of volunteers to help Ukrainians by serving them a hot meal, giving them clean clothes and providing resources and support to help them get back on their feet amid the conflict.
Jeff Battcher is from Macon and is currently a volunteer in Ukraine.
"These folks are at war even though it doesn't look like it and they really really feel it," Battcher said. "Sometimes this is their only meal. This is their only meal of the day so to give them a hot meal means a lot to these people and it was very rewarding and fills my heart."
Battcher is also part of a homeless nonprofit organization called DePaul USA. He's been a volunteer with Depaul USA for eight years and has even been on their board of directors for the past six years.
"It's kind of an odd feeling to go in between you know a country that's not at war to a country at war and just feel the difference between the people and the security and those things," Battcher said,
Battcher said Ukraine looks like any other European country. There are people walking around and the leaves are changing to their autumn tones. After talking to them, however, it showed him that the Ukrainians need solidarity and stability more than ever.
"You get the sense of normalcy that you're trying to have but if you spend just any time with them, you can feel that fear and that hurt and the despair quite frankly," Battcher said.
Battcher said he has gained a new perspective on things and looks forward to making a difference in the state of Ukraine.
"I'm a grain of sand in what's going on here," Battcher said. "Once you know that all of them have relatives who have either died in the war or they'll have ones that are fighting, it just gives you a new perspective of things. So being able to help in just a small way of just giving them a smile and a hot meal I think just makes a great deal to them."
Battcher will be in Ukraine from now until Nov. 4.
For ways to support, you can go to www.DePaulUSA.com/Macon.