höchstmass Helps – Emergency Aid for Ukraine
A personal look back at our spontaneous relief action in March 2022: Within 48 hours, we collected 17 pallets of relief supplies and transported them to the Polish-Ukrainian border.
Dear network, dear family, friends, and acquaintances – we would like to share our experiences and impressions from the spontaneous relief action with you. Circumstances have dramatically worsened since our journey, and more support is needed today than ever before.
Nevertheless, we want to pass on our impressions and motivate everyone who is still hesitating or considering to take action. It is impressive what is possible in the shortest time when people come together and get to work.
An incredible number of donors responded to our donation appeal from March 2, 2022. In just 48 hours until Friday, March 4, 2022, the incredible amount of approximately 17 pallets of relief supplies came together. From a duo, it became a group of six friends who organized the transport in three vehicles practically overnight.
From Appeal to Action
What started as a spontaneous idea became a moving relief action with a lasting impression within a few days.
Donation Appeal Starts
On Wednesday, we published our appeal to family, friends, and our network. The response exceeded all expectations – the first donations arrived within a few hours.
Donations Pour In
Throughout the day, we received in-kind donations of all kinds: food, hygiene products, clothing, medication. Our parking lot in Mainz turned into a logistics center. Donations were also diligently collected at the warehouse in Alzey.
Sorting and Packing
In radiant sunshine, we sorted and repackaged all donations. Deliveries continued to arrive throughout the day – including an entire vehicle full of non-perishable food. The last vehicle was loaded around midnight.
Departure at 4:00 AM
After a short rest, we started punctually at four in the morning from Mainz. During a brief stop in Erfurt, we picked up personal protective equipment for five Ukrainian fighters through our network. Around 7 PM, we reached Rzeszów in Poland.
Handover and Return
We handed over 13 pallets to our logistics partner for further transport to Lviv. Afterwards, we safely brought three women with four children from a refugee shelter to the Rhine-Main area.
Pictures Say More Than Words
Impressions from the sorting station, the loaded convoy, and the handover in Poland.
Sorting action at the höchstmass parking lot
Loaded vehicles before departure
Food delivery for Ukraine
From Mainz to the Border
Over 1,000 kilometers through Germany and Poland – a journey that none of us will forget.
Start in Mainz
At 4:00 AM early in the morning, we started with three fully loaded vehicles. Despite the short night, everyone was fully motivated and energized for the upcoming mission.
Stop in Erfurt
At 7:00 AM, we reached Erfurt for a brief stop. There, we picked up personal protective equipment for five Ukrainian fighters through our network.
Arrival in Rzeszów
Around 7:00 PM, we reached our destination in Poland. With the support of the helpers on site, we unloaded the vehicles and handed over the relief supplies to the logistics partner.
Impressions That Stay
The next morning, we drove to the Polish-Ukrainian border town of Medyka to offer refugees a ride to the Rhine-Main area. The images and impressions there can hardly be put into words.
Not only the language barrier made it difficult to build the necessary trust with the refugees. According to what we were told, people with dishonest intentions also gather at the border, shamelessly exploiting the need.
On the advice of the helpers on site, we drove to a nearby refugee shelter. There, we quickly found three women with four children who gratefully accepted our offer. We were able to bring them safely to the Rhine-Main area and provide them with accommodation.
"After seeing the suffering and need of these countless people with our own eyes, we will continue to provide support. This was not the end of our help."
Taking Responsibility Together
We trustingly handed over the remaining donations to other helpers who also brought relief supplies to Poland. But for us too, this was not the end of our support.
After seeing the suffering and need of these people with our own eyes, it is clear: We will continue to provide support. It is impressive what is possible when people come together and get to work – and that is exactly what we want to continue doing in the future.
We thank all donors, all helpers, and everyone who made this action possible. You have shown what true solidarity means.
Together Achieve More
Whether as an employee, customer, or partner – become part of a team that takes responsibility and gets to work when it matters.