Muscatine, Iowa donates a fire engine to Ukraine war efforts

Noelle Alviz-Gransee, Des Moines Register
·2 min read
A line of ambulances, including one from Davenport-based Genesis Health System, arrives in Ukraine in January 2023. The donation was coordinated by U.S. Ambulances for Ukraine and Peoria, Illinois-based OSF Healthcare.
A line of ambulances, including one from Davenport-based Genesis Health System, arrives in Ukraine in January 2023. The donation was coordinated by U.S. Ambulances for Ukraine and Peoria, Illinois-based OSF Healthcare.

Today marks one year since the first U.S. ambulance was shipped to Ukraine full of medical supplies. In this next round, Iowa will be involved.

The effort, led by an executive of Peoria, Illinois-based OSF Healthcare, has resulted in 28 ambulances and 1 fire engine delivered over the past 12 months, according to a news release. Most of the vehicles donated are serving on the front lines to aid Ukrainians against Russian forces.

To celebrate the one-year mark, U.S. Ambulances for Ukraine will accept its fifth donated fire engine, this time from Muscatine, Iowa. It will be part of a delivery of four other fire engines and 10 ambulances. They are scheduled to leave mid-April and be the eighth shipment to Ukraine, according to the release. Muscatine previously donated three ambulances.

"Since the beginning this has been a huge group effort. If it wasn't for the support of OSF HealthCare, the Ukrainian Consulate in Chicago, the Ukrainian Medical Association of North America and the UA Resistance Foundation we would have never been able to achieve the success we have had," said Chris Manson, vice president of government relations for OSF HealthCare and founder of U.S. Ambulances for Ukraine.

After they arrive, there will be a total of 38 donated ambulances and six fire engines. Emergency vehicles have been donated from 13 states, and more states have contributed to supplies.

The Muscatine fire truck will also join ambulances previously donated by Medic EMS and Genesis Health System in the Quad Cities and Cedar Rapids-based Area Ambulance Service.

A fire truck and ambulance are shown in Ukraine after being donated by U.S. Ambulances for Ukraine, an effort organized by OSF Healthcare in Peoria, Illinois.
A fire truck and ambulance are shown in Ukraine after being donated by U.S. Ambulances for Ukraine, an effort organized by OSF Healthcare in Peoria, Illinois.

"It is amazing to think that we have 29 emergency vehicles in Ukraine right now and it is even more amazing that we are preparing to ship another 10 ambulances and 5 fire engines in April,” Manson said in a release. “I am so appreciative of the generosity of the American people, the fire departments, ambulance providers and hospitals and health systems that have contributed to this effort."

Manson and his team will drive all 15 vehicles into Ukraine in April. The ambulances will go to the military units and the Ministry of Health while fire engines will go to the State Emergency Services.

Noelle Alviz-Gransee is a breaking news reporter at the Des Moines Register. Follow her on Twitter @NoelleHannika or email her at NAlvizGransee@registermedia.com.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Muscatine, Iowa donates fire truck to Ukraine war efforts