SALT LAKE CITY — Utah’s first lady asked, and Utah delivered.
Hundreds of cards and artwork from school-aged kids in Utah were stowed on a plane Wednesday, set to be hand delivered to children fleeing Ukraine.
WATCH: Utah Marine in Ukraine helping refugees flee the Russian invasion
A little over a week ago, Utah’s first lady, Abby Cox, put out a call to action for children to offer friendship and encouragement by way of cards and art.
Dirk Astle was already set to go volunteer in Poland with a church group.
“They need volunteers that can drive vans from the borders into the main cities, get people into hotels for a night or two, and then onto trains to their main destination in western Europe,” said Astle.
But then Astle was asked a favor from a friend who happens to be Salt Lake City’s Ukrainian consul.
“He actually said the first lady Abby Cox had this initiative where Utah school children were writing letters to Ukrainian refugee childrenm and they had a series of ways to deliver it that fell through,” said Astle.
Dirk agreed to make the delivery personally.
“And I crammed all my stuff into a carry on and I am checking two bags full of letters from Utah to Ukraine.”
WATCH: Ogden business owner in Poland helps Ukrainian refugees
Dirk and his son weighed those bags and found out he will be carrying 100 pounds worth of cards and notes of support on this journey.
Astle knows people in Krakow who are helping to shuttle refugees from the border, and will join them by driving a van for the next week, helping strangers in another country.
He says he’s thankful he can take a week off from his job as the owner of the Melting Pot restaurant to help out.
“The biggest message from my friends that are there now is that they’re just scared, and so having a friend from Utah that they’ve never met reach out will help the kids and obviously getting them to safety is a big help,” said Astle.
The cards aren’t the only delivery being made. The Beehive State is also delivering on its promise to send relief supplies, like clothing, blankets, and sanitary supplies.
