Local Donations Help Carry Humanitarian Aid From St. Mary’s County To Ukraine

CHARLOTTE HALL, Md. — A Southern Maryland church, local residents, and community supporters have teamed up to send lifesaving medical aid to civilians in Ukraine, with a St. Mary’s County resident now on the ground delivering the supplies and leading the humanitarian effort.

The effort, led by St. Mary’s County resident Ryan Daniels and supported by Encounter Christian Center, advances humanitarian work in some of Ukraine’s most heavily impacted regions. Funds were raised to purchase lifesaving medical equipment for Durham Humanitarian, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Lviv that provides aid to individuals, families and animals affected by the war.

Daniels, who is currently on the ground in Ukraine delivering supplies and supporting humanitarian operations across multiple regions, is also a candidate for county commissioner in District 4 for St. Mary’s County. He said his humanitarian work began before his campaign and remains focused on assisting civilians and aid workers—while acknowledging the local generosity that made the mission possible.

“This is about highlighting what the people in Ukraine have endured and the work being done to help them,” Daniels said. “Bringing awareness to the people and organizations supporting civilians during the war matters.”

Leaders at Encounter Christian Center said the Ukraine effort is part of the church’s long-standing commitment to humanitarian outreach, both locally and internationally. The church has previously supported disaster relief efforts, including sending a team to assist victims of Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana, and has continued similar work in the years since.

“Encounter Christian Center has a long-standing commitment to stepping in whenever needs arise, both locally and globally,” said Dr. Wilson Morales, the church’s lead pastor.

Driven by a desire to continue helping those affected by the war, Daniels returned home from a volunteer assignment in Ukraine that spanned December 2024 through February 2025. He was primarily based in Kharkiv, where he worked alongside several humanitarian and governmental organizations. These included the Kharkiv Regional Organization of the Red Cross Society of Ukraine, the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine, the Office of Defense Cooperation, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and others. His efforts supported a range of activities, including aid coordination, evacuation support, intelligence relay, demining operations, and rapid-response deployments.

“War is a terrible teacher,” Daniels said. “But it teaches resilience. Ukraine has become a symbol of that strength. And it’s the people who have lived through war who understand its cost best, and who want it to stop most of all.”

After returning to St. Mary’s County in February 2025, Daniels still wanted to support those he had worked alongside overseas. He reached out to local individuals and groups seeking donations, and many responded with both one-time and recurring contributions.

One effort stood out when Daniels contacted his friend Scott Barber, who, along with his wife, Tina, brought the idea to their pastor at Encounter Christian Center. The congregation quickly approved the initiative, and the church’s support—combined with donations from other individuals and groups—helped raise enough funds to purchase critical medical equipment for Durham Humanitarian, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Lviv that delivers lifesaving supplies to individuals, families and animals affected by the war.

Daniels is receiving the donated supplies in Lviv and delivering them directly to Durham Humanitarian before continuing on to Kyiv, Kharkiv and Dnipro. While in Kharkiv, he is reconnecting with colleagues at the regional Red Cross, including its chairman, Konstantin Bashkirov, to assist with projects that were left unfinished after his early departure in February 2025 following the sudden collapse of USAID funding.

Daniels said the mission is not only about supporting people affected by the war, but also about recognizing the generosity of those who continue to help, even as economic pressures grow at home.

“It’s about being appreciative of the donations and the people who made this work possible,” said Daniels. “Its about helping people in need, and that spirit of compassion deserves recognition in itself.”

Learn More And Support The Mission

Encounter Christian Center supports missionaries and ministry partners serving communities locally and around the world through outreach, humanitarian aid, and spiritual care. To learn more about the church’s global mission efforts, meet ministry partners, and find ways to support through prayer, giving, or sponsorship, visit the church’s missions page at eccmd.net/missions.