Dear Friend of the Ukrainian Diabetes Project,

We are sending our annual appeal letter earlier than usual trying to beat the busy-ness of the fall season. We hope you and your family have been well during this last challenging year. The UDP has continued with business as usual other than board meetings being held via zoom, and our program moves forward as the children in Ukraine continue to need our help with their annual diabetes supplies.

During 2020 we shipped diabetes supplies to both Kyiv and Kherson areas. The supplies were purchased in late 2019 costing $56,000.00. The cost to ship was $1,600.00. The supplies consist of blood glucose meters and strips, insulin pen needles and lancet devices with lancets. Our affiliates in Kyiv and Kherson distribute the supplies to the children through the Kyiv Charity Fund and Kherson Diabetes Group respectively.

While traveling to Florida this summer we had the fortunate opportunity to meet with our main medical supplier, Diamond Diabetes Products (DDP), and spend time with the president and his assistant. They have provided diabetes supplies to the UDP since 2014 charging at charity rate. We learned that they were able to keep employed a cleaning company that would have otherwise closed down during this past “Covid year”. As a major medical supplier to hospitals, DDP needed to stay operational and their facility needed that extra cleaning as mandated by CDC, so it was a win-win for both companies. We are honored to do business with them.

For 2021 we are in the process of purchasing ~$67,000.00 worth of similar diabetes supplies. We are currently working on all paperwork to get through customs.