Local Jewish Federation leader visits Ukraine border, details refugees' biggest needs

WASHINGTON (7News) — Gil Preuss returned from a 36-hour mission to Poland where he spent all of Tuesday at the border with Ukraine.

The CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington wanted to see for himself the needs of the now 3 million refugees, and to deliver some clothing and supplies.

"The typical story was someone who tried to stay put, who stayed in their house three, four, five days, hiding under stairs when they were shelling, running out of food, running out of water, and then making a decision," said Pruess. "(They're) being called, being told there's a van leaving in 15 minutes, and grabbing whatever they can."

Preuss took a cellphone video showing a constant flow of people who were finally able to make it to the border, only to wait anywhere from 12 to 16 hours to process through.

"You've just exited a warzone and you don't know what's going to happen so, there was a level of uncertainty really to the last second for all of them," he said.

"It was very quiet. People just there to help. There wasn't a lot of crying or energy. I think just the level of exhaustion both for the refugees and the volunteers who are working around the clock."

Pruess says the most urgent need now is financial donations to keep that work going.

READ MORE: LIST | How to help Ukrainian refugees around the DMV

After hearing the stories from people whose only belongings are what they could carry, he says his most poignant memory happened when he was leaving the border.

Among the droves of people crossing to safety, he says saw a teenage girl carrying her pet cat through the last step of the evacuation.

"You got the sense that this was one of the last things that connected her to her previous life," he said. "Something that gave her stability and a sense of who she was... that image is going to stay with me for a very long time."

One of the main reasons for the trip was to be able to be a witness and return to Metro DC to tell the story.

"I think part of the story is both the potential for meanness and cruelty, but also the incredible beauty when people open their hearts to one another."