How does an ambulance sprout wings?

Help Sister Cities send a surplus City of Sonoma ambulance to Ukraine

What do two astronauts, a congressman, a small town mayor, a Consul General, an artist, two Firefighters, a little girl and the folks in a small town have in common? They’re giving wings to a dream and new life to a surplus ambulance that will save lives in Ukraine.

That’s the width and breadth of an idea that has taken flight in our small town and like so many other good things in Sonoma, neighbors are coming together to make it happen. Our goal is to raise $20,000 and we hope you’ll help us make that dream a reality and give wings to this ambulance.

It all started with a simple question from the Consul General of Ukraine. “Does anyone have any used ambulances that could be shipped to Ukraine?” And of course, Sonoma’s City Council said “YES”. So, with the support of City Manager, David Guhin and Fire Chief Steve Akre, from there the Sonoma Sister Cities Association went into action to figure out how to get a 28,000-pound ambulance from Sonoma to Kaniv, where it will be used by first responders or a hospital in need. That’s where the astronauts came in and the emails began to fly. Someone knew someone who knew someone else and eventually we found an organization that ships ambulances to Ukraine. In fact they have shipped over 75 ambulances to Ukraine. That organization, US Ambulances for Ukraine, started with the simple question from an 8-year-old girl – Can’t we do something to help Ukraine? Seventy-five ambulances later our shipping problem was solved.

But the story doesn’t end there; here’s where you come in. Our goal is to send the ambulance filled with medical supplies and equipment and that takes money. We’re asking our neighbors in Sonoma to help us reach our goal of $20,000 and in return for your tax-deductible contribution you will have the satisfaction of saving lives and a huge thank you from our friends in Kaniv.

Sonoma has been sister cities with Kaniv since 1987 and since the beginning of the war in February of 2022, the Sonoma Sister Cities Association/Kaniv Committee has raised and sent almost $140,000 in humanitarian aid as well as 2,500 pairs of warm Bombas socks, underwear and soft children’s toys.

Please help us give wings to this ambulance – donate here or write a check to: SSCA/Kaniv and mail it to PO Box 1975, Sonoma CA 95476.