RED OAK, Iowa (WOWT) – A group of hospitals in western Iowa have come together to collect and ship medical supplies to Ukraine.

It all started with Chris Hughes, originally from Red Oak Iowa. The retired major general contacted a non-profit organization in Ukraine wishing to help him. His plan: Gather excess or expired medical supplies.

With a phone call, the idea began to spread.

“They sent me the list, I sent it to this hospital, and then the rest of the hospitals went with it,” Hughes said.

It all started with Montgomery County Memorial Hospital, but other hospitals soon joined the group. From Spencer to Shenandoah, they all said yes.

The supply boxes contain several hospital necessities.

“Ivy bags, gauze for chest wounds, tourniquets, things for battlefield wounds,” Hughes said.

All of the supplies that were donated by the various hospitals ended up in Red Oak thanks to people like Susane Cooner, CEO of Audubon County Hospital, who drove hours to collect and drop them off.

“Well, that’s something that gave our staff at Audubon Hospital really good morale,” Cooner said. “Because we were all sitting around trying to figure out what we could do, and then we got a message from Ron here in the hospital and we thought it was something we could all do.”

Montgomery County Memorial Hospital CEO Ron Kloewen says he’s proud of the work the hospitals have done to make this happen.

“I’m just happy, proud and grateful for the support people are giving to those in need. It’s what we do every day, it’s helping people in need. These people are in great need and we have something to give, and that’s what this is about,” Kloewen said.

All donations and supplies will be shipped to Ukraine this Wednesday.

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