For decades, Lincoln businessman Steve Glenn has helped Husker fans travel to big games and bowl appearances. Now he uses his travel agency and his expertise to help Ukrainian refugees find shelter in Poland. “We went out and booked in April for 50 hotels a room that accommodates 200 refugee families and they have nowhere to live,” Glenn said. He called it Operation Safe Harbor Ukraine. “We put them in a private room where they can be with their kids, so they are completely safe, Glenn said. Because of the community’s generosity, Operation Safe Harbor Ukraine raised more than $220,000 and recruited church and community groups and dozens of volunteers who traveled to Poland to help,” Glenn said. Live in the month of April through part of June. Lost,” Glenn said. Most of the refugees were women and children. Many of them were sick.” One in three people staying at the hotel had medical problems because they had to come from Ukraine to Warsaw, Poland. This is a 10- or 12-day trip on foot, cars, buses, trains, and across six inches of snow and spring rain, Glenn said. “Many were shocked,” Glenn said. This helps people in their darkest hours,” said Glenn. He had seen thousands of people sleeping in collective shelters or train stations. A woman with three people. The children had just lost her husband in the war. “It was tears for us because we weren’t We know how to help.” He said they took her advice and tried to give her comfort.” Glenn said all donations go to hotel rooms, dining, clothing and medical care. Volunteers help families fill out papers and even arrange passage to other countries. “We’ve already sent 11 families to Canada, the UK, Spain and even two families to California,” Glenn said. He works to move families to Lincoln and Omaha as well. So far, Operation Safe Haven Ukraine has helped more than 200 families. “We think we’ll get to over 500 or 600 here in the next month,” Glenn said. While in Poland, Glenn traveled to the Ukrainian border. “And miles and miles of semi-trucks waiting at the border with supplies to go to Ukraine,” Glenn said. He also saw men with rifles heading for Ukraine. Glenn said his team of volunteers is working with local organizations to identify families who need help. “This is to show Ukraine that we love them. And then America cares. And America feels it’s not right and we support you,” Glenn said, Glenn said they see the gratitude in their smiles. One of the gestures that particularly impressed him and the volunteers was a hand-drawn thank you card from a 10-year-old refugee.” “The color of the Ukrainian flag with a heart with the United States flag on it,” Glenn said, “What a powerful drawing. We are very fortunate in the United States.” Here’s a link to the Safe Harbor process if you’d like to help.
For decades, Lincoln businessman Steve Glenn has helped Husker fans travel to big matches and bowl appearances.
Now he is using his travel agency and his expertise to help Ukrainian refugees find shelter in Poland.
“We basically went out and booked in April for 50 hotel rooms to accommodate 200 refugee families who have nowhere to live,” Glenn said.
He called it Operation Safe Harbor in Ukraine.
“We put them in a private room where they can be with their kids, so they’re completely safe,” Glenn said.
Because of the community’s generosity, he said, Operation Safe Harbor Ukraine raised more than $220,000 and recruited church and community groups and dozens of volunteers who traveled to Poland to help.
“It looks like we’ll be able to support refugees for the month of April and into part of June,” Glenn said.
He recently traveled to Poland and saw despair for himself.
“If you think about it, the trauma of losing your home, your family, your neighborhood, your job, you lose all of those,” Glenn said.
Most of the refugees were women and children. Many of them were sick.
“One in three people staying at the hotel has medical problems because they had to come from Ukraine to Warsaw, Poland. And that’s a 10 or 12-day trip on foot, trains, cars and trains through six inches of snow and spring rain,” Glenn said.
He said many were shocked.
“This helps people in their darkest hours,” Glenn said.
He saw thousands of people sleeping in collective shelters or train stations.
“It was a lot of tears for us because we didn’t know how to help,” Glenn said.
He said they took her advice and tried to give her comfort.
“There’s not much we can do and I just lost everything,” Glenn said.
He said all donations go to hotel rooms, dining, clothing and medical care.
Volunteers help families fill out papers and even arrange passage to other countries.
“We’ve already sent 11 families to Canada, the UK, Spain and even two families to California,” Glenn said.
He works on family travel to Lincoln and Omaha, too.
To date, Operation Safe Harbor Ukraine has helped more than 200 families.
“We think we’ll be here over 500 or 600 next month,” Glenn said.
While in Poland, Glenn traveled to the Ukrainian border.
“We came miles and miles and miles from half the trucks waiting at the border with supplies to go to Ukraine,” Glenn said.
He also saw men with rifles heading to Ukraine.
“These were Americans, British and Europeans who were on their way to battle,” Glenn said.
Glenn said his team of volunteers is working with local organizations to identify families who need help.
“This is to show Ukraine that we love them. And then America cares. America feels it’s not right and we support you,” Glenn said.
Glenn said they see the gratitude in their smiles.
One gesture that particularly impressed him and the volunteers was a hand-drawn thank you card from a 10-year-old refugee.
“Hand and hand were the color of the Ukrainian flag with a heart with the flag of the United States,” Glenn said.
“What a solid graphic,” Glenn said. “We’re very fortunate in the States.”
Here is a link to Operation Safe Harbor if you’d like help.
