These Polish truckers wending their way through war-torn Ukraine only drive at night. They do so in the dark to avoid detection by Russian forces.

Of course, their own safety is a concern. But even more importantly, they’re compelled to take care and travel stealthily because they’re seared by the understanding that they can not fail in their mission: delivering much-needed food and medical supplies from Poland to besieged Ukrainians hunkered down in basements and bunkers amid the Russian invasion of their country.

Promo products executive John Lynch is stepping up to help power the efforts of such heroes and, more broadly, to deliver desperately needed aid to the same population they’re serving – Ukrainians in their home country and those refugees who have fled to Poland to escape the Russian advance.

American John Lynch, who lives in Poland and runs Poland-based promotional products apparel supplier Lynka, discusses a new charitable initiative he has helped spearhead that aims to swiftly get aid to Ukraine and Ukrainian refugees.

Lynch, an American who has lived in Poland for about 30 years and who founded and operates Krakow-area apparel supplier Lynka, has collaborated with friends and colleagues from the American Chamber of Commerce in Poland (AmCham Poland) and others to create Corporate Aid for Ukraine (CAU), a humanitarian charitable fund.

“Our mission is to raise millions of dollars from businesspeople, corporations and SMEs, and to get it into the hands of the people and organizations in Poland and Ukraine – faster than imaginable, because we’re here on the front line and we know how to get things done,” says Lynch, whose Lynka became part of New Jersey-based Top 40 supplier Vantage Apparel (asi/93390) in 2021. 

Both corporations and individuals can go here to make tax-deductible donations to CAU.

CAU advisers will then recommend donated funds to established, reputable and fully vetted Poland-based charities and aid-organizations that are on the front lines of providing immediate aid to Ukrainian refugees in Poland and citizens still in Ukraine. Certainly some of those supplies will be transported by those brave truckers traveling by night.

The funds will be used to purchase food, hygienic products, medicines and medical supplies/services, and more.

“The CAU advisory board and AmCham Poland will monitor the evolving situation and respond promptly to emerging needs and rapidly evolving challenges as this crisis continues to develop,” the nonprofit says, adding that neither the charity nor AmCham will take any compensation or commission.

Lynch notes that CAU organizers pulled the organization together in a matter of days. Organizers include Tony Housh, chairman of AmCham Poland; C. David DeBenedetti, an American who’s now a Poland-based partner in a law firm; and Dorothy Dabrowski, former executive director of AmCham Poland. Jonathan Isaacson, CEO of Top 40 supplier Gemline (asi/56070) and a member of Counselor’s Power 50 ranking of the most influential people in promo, is a fundraising adviser.

Within less than two days of the donation link going live the week of March 20, CAU raised about $60,000, says Lynch.

“There is a massive humanitarian need,” says Isaacson, who’s planning a webinar for suppliers and distributors for Tuesday, April 5, at 1 p.m. ET on the Russian war against Ukraine and the roots of the conflict (more details to come). “It doesn’t seem reasonable to stand on the sidelines under such circumstances,” Isaacson continues. “At the least, we need to bear witness. We need to step up and help.”

AmCham Poland’s advisory council includes major corporations such as Microsoft, Pfizer, Amazon, 3M, Boston Consulting Group, Boeing, Google, IBM and Johnson & Johnson. The Advertising Specialty Institute, a promo products industry membership organization that includes ASI Media/Counselor magazine, supports the CAU initiative.

Lynch tells ASI Media that CAU expects to be at its mission for a long time. Even if a peace deal were soon negotiated, the billions of dollars in damage already done to Ukraine’s infrastructure alone will create a humanitarian challenge that will reverberate for years.

“There will continue,” Lynch says, “to be a great need that must be met.”

ABC News went to Poland around the end of April and did a feature on Lynka, highlighting in particular how Lynch has hired some 50 Ukrainian refugees to work at the firm. “They had a normal life a month ago,” Lynch told ABC. “Their husbands and sons and fathers are walking around with AK-47s, defending their country, and they're here every single day wondering if they're safe.”

Lynka employees have put their apparel decorating expertise to work to make T-shirts with poignant messages. The output includes a direct-to-garment printed T-shirt with a heart-stinging image of a Ukrainian woman in soldier’s gear and the message, “Be Brave.”

“I said I have to do something here,” Lynch told ABC of Ukrainian refugees. “I have to help these people.”

Lynka produced this T-shirt with a message about Ukrainian bravery in the face of Russian military aggression.