Fred Roeder, whom I’ve known for nearly a decade, and Maria Semykoz (who is from Sievierodonetsk in Donbas) have a way for avgeeks to support Ukraine. Fred recently shared with me that he’d obtained a piece from the AN-225 Mriya that was destroyed by Russia early in the war, and used it to raise funds.
He now has available luggage tags from downed Russian aircraft. And you can have one in exchange for a donation to a U.S.-based tax-exempt non-profit.
Russia’s fighter jets and helicopters terrorize Ukrainians. They kill with bombs, missiles, and salvos. Ukrainians defend their homeland and turn Russian war machines into scrap.
We recycle this scrap into luggage tags. The money we raise goes to support Ukraine’s defenders.
For a donation of $399 you’ll receive one of these luggage tags, which “specifies the model of the jet on one side and the date & time when it was shot down, crash coordinates & the tail number.” Funds go to provide the unit that shot down the plane with “drones and other non-lethal supplies such as warm clothes.” In addition for a $3000 donation you can name a drone.
The project is Recycle Russia. And while I’m always somewhat concerned sending funds to foreign war efforts, given potential lack of clarity of U.S. rules around the matter, you are actually just sending funds to a U.S. non-profit and they assure that the efforts being funded are humanitarian and information-gathering in nature.
The funds being sent don’t get to the civilians and the soldiers that need it.
The funds being sent are nothing more than corruption and are escalating and continuing the war. The United States is pushing this regional war to the brink of world war III nuclear war.
The proxy war needs to STOP.
All the funding needs to stop immediately. How many billions should we continue to send?
Do the research.
People actually participate in this nonsense? And you support it? I think we need WW3 for humanity to start again. Time for a second Genesis.
Gary, you should be careful about listing on your blog some links to websites collecting money/donations. Did you order the tags and receive them? Do you know anything about this charity? If not, you have nothing to write about.
The registrant of recyclerussia.com website provided the following street address in Canada:
96 Mowat Ave, Toronto, ON, M4K 3K1
I highly doubt that this is a US-registered non-profit. You may be giving your $ to anyone in this world including guys in Moscow.
It is rather easy to make such a website and collect money. Note that there are no physical addresses and even phone numbers. But even with those the website could be a fake.
If you are interested to support a good cause, donate to Red Cross, American Cancer Society, or
many other charities that are transparent about their expenses.
How about donating your miles through AA Stand Up to Cancer?
The money laundering “bread basket” never ceases to dupe privledged westerners.
@Kuloko – I know the people involved in the charity collecting the funds, yes
And I donate miles (and money) to good causes, I’m on the board of Give-a-Mile in the U.S.
from the bottom of the website page “Donations are going to the US-based charitable 501 (c)(3) organization Consumer Choice Education” … why does it seem like the charity with that name is related to charter schools? How does it relate to Ukraine?
Hey maybe someone could also set up a charity selling figurines made from the bones of Russian soldiers who were killed in action. ‘Murica!!
David you left off the 2nd half of the sentence which answers your question. Why did you do that?
“Donations are going to the US-based charitable 501 (c)(3) organization Consumer Choice Education and will be fully used to purchase drones and other non-lethal equipment for Ukrainians.”
The Ukraine scam is a continuation of the Covid fraud.
“The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary.” H.L. Mencken
@ Gary
Raising funds to support the Ukrainian war effort is one thing, but turning downed aircraft (in which somebody perished) into luggage tags to sell – have you completely lost your moral compass?!
If you know these people and they are reputable, then perhaps provide some more detail.
The charity name appears to be called Consumer Choice Education – a very weird name for the scope you describe. Is that the correct charity in this case?
(That organisation is unranked by Charity Navigator (not necessarily a problem if the organisation is new and data are botmavlabkle to make assessment)).
If so, the nominated address is in HQ in Arlington, VA. Is that the case?
Only on Google Maps, the cited address appears to be in a complex of units (Village at Shirlington) – the only resident business of apparent relevance is a financial advisory company called Thomas Dwight Capital – are they associated or is that just a geographical coincidence?
The dude linked to that company name is Richard Stavros – is he part of this gig or is that again, just coincidental?
Why not tell us more about your mates – why do you believe they are credible in this case?
The fact that you are involved with a charitable organisation yourself doesn’t necessarily lend any credibility to the activities of your mates!
Remember, it’s your taxes in the US paying for this…
Janet Yellen says Biden Admin is delivering an additional $4.5 billion in taxpayer funds to Ukraine in the coming weeks.
The money will go to pay the salaries of Ukrainian officials/bureaucrats.
Afghanistan 2.0.
Wow. I see the Rubles are still funding useful idiots. The comments above this one are literally Russian propaganda or (Republican) talking points. It’s like Afghanistan except for the important details like who invaded who and if American troops are there. Also, “Covid fraud”? That’s another great Russian/GOP talking point. Shows severe lack of critical thinking skills. I’m embarrassed about the comments I’m reading except for Lindy.
“The comments above this one are literally Russian propaganda or (Republican) talking points.”
That comment doesn’t even rise to that level.
We don’t get to decide where our tax dollars go. However, I 100% support my taxes going to support Ukraine. Send more.
Every dollar spent now saves three in a larger conflict that will come if we let Russia win.
I hope all of you Russophobes get drafted to fight in WW3. Have fun
I may even buy some of this, sell it on Ebay to some ShitLib wanting WW3, donate the proceeds to a starving family in Donbass. Enough of Kiev’s aggression.
Thanks for sharing this great cause, Gary. I personally know at least a dozen of ordinary Americans who for many months and years have volunteered their time, efforts, and money to deliver assistance to the Ukrainians in their fight against Russian invasion since 2014, even more so after the full-blown war that Putin started in Feb 2022.
It’s ok to be skeptical about a non-profit and how donations may be used, but if one is too suspicious, it’s not difficult to find reputable organizations with a good track record. And like Brett, I am also surprised with so many useful idiots who showed up at your blog with their Putin propaganda and talking points, oh well..
Right on, Darth Apu!
I’ll wait until Gary’s friends start auctioning off Russian scalps and bone fragments. Wonder where Gary’s humanitarian tendencies were regarding thousands of dead US troops and lost US equipment in Iraq, he can also buy and hang those “keepsakes” on his luggage.
Amazing how Russian propaganda / disinformation campaigns are alive and well in your comments section. These MAGA conspiracy theories being trafficked here are proof positive of the immense failures of our education system.
@Ryan
Is it worth a European city being nuked to save a 3rd world wasteland of eastern Ukraine which is 60% ethnic russian to begin with?
Russia hasn’t won anything, but the US and Europe and especially Ukraine have definitely already lost. Cut the losses and then rebuild stronger. Everyone in the US outside the political and governmental/NGO circle-jerks and their mass media cronies thinks this is a stupid war and could care less about Ukraine. Take those billions and spend in America.
This is disgusting. There probably were some dead Russian airman and women in these aircraft. They don’t make policy but just do what ordered to do.
Would you promote the purchase of downed US aircraft Afghanistan?
Finally as others have stated, Ukraine Government has always been corrupt and any money will fill the pockets of Zelensky and his cronies.
Sheesh these comments, I didn’t realize the Points and Miles game worked in Moscow.
Neat idea to utilize some of Ukraine’s new scrap metal.
Since Putin can get away with invading Ukraine, with minimal push ask, why not have the USA take over Canada and Mexico? After all, who would object?
@James N
Of course war and covid are imaginary and so is your BS brain!
@Rog…You weren’t able to grasp the meaning of Mencken’s quote. Gee, what a surprise. Also, you’re still unable to refute my claims. All you have are weak-minded ad hominems.
@James N
Mencken is wrong and so is your constant stupidity!
Excellent retort! Thanks for validating my point. You’re nothing, if not consistent.
Russia is justified.
Hope they destroy the Ukraine
@Ryan
Go to the Ukraine and fight for the neonazis you support.
Putin is an int’l terrorist, a mass-murderer and a war criminal. There is plenty of precedent for any government and/or group to grab him and bring him to justice.
And let’s locate putin’s two adult daughters, and bring them into the public sphere.
Seems to be some russian trolls/propagandists at work here.
The USSRphiles in these comments seem to love Putin and totalitarianism in general. They’ll probably say the same things if America and the West abandons Ukraine and Putin then invades other countries where the people rejected the USSR.
These MAGA conspiracy theories posted here are proof positive of Russian propaganda and fascism in the MaGA Republican Party. I support giving money and arms to Ukraine