At first, Santa Clara County Supervisor Otto Lee was reluctant to share his mission of service. However, he says the exposure to the refugee situation provided insight into the needs of those who may eventually resettle in the Bay Area.
A group of veterans are on a medical mission to Ukraine, including a Bay Area man who is a newly-retired member of the elite US Army Special Forces.
"I was able to volunteer some of my time," Lee said."One of the days, I was out there for about seven hours to give out bananas, apples, water and those types of items to those who are transiting." For four days and three nights, Lee took in the magnitude of the refugees' plight. They were overcome by the war. They were exhausted. They were hungry.
"I remember giving a banana and a couple of apples and water to this old lady, and she was tearing up," Lee said."It's just these are the things that you see. The human toll has taken place, very real in front of your eyes."He met another woman carrying a puppy who had left the southern port city of Mariupol, which has been a major target of Russian bombings.
Even as the World Central Kitchen volunteers provided meals, Lee saw additional needs. He went to a local market to buy and then donate bread and canned ham.
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