Local man shares recent experience helping Ukrainian orphans in war-torn Ukraine

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Last week, Action News Jax told you of a local man who had been called to Ukraine by an old friend who runs a Ukrainian orphanage.

Action News Jax has been keeping up with him. He has gone to Ukraine to help orphans in the past — because he has one very special skill.

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John Pfefferle is a pediatric dentist who has gone on over 100 international mission trips to provide pediatric dental aid to orphanages.

When he got the call that they needed him in Ukraine to help with over 160 orphans who had been evacuated from Kyiv to the west, he and another dentist went over without any group backing them to help.

From the moment they landed in Krakow, Pfefferle and his dental partner Phil Aday have been facing the horrors of war firsthand.

“They need to have a few minutes where they know they matter. And most of them… They don’t know that they matter. And they’re not treated like they are,” Pfefferle spoke of the children he’d be working with.

The two went with an ambiguous plan. “We’ll just do what we need to do and if we don’t have patients, we’ll work on the food lines and if we don’t have that…” Pfefferle trailed off.

But since they landed, Pfefferle has been able to keep Action News Jax up to date via text, pictures and videos.

The two flew into Krakow with bags full of dental supplies and donations.

“Made it to Krakow safely with all bags and no issues with customs. Since we are unable to reach Ternopil tonight before curfew takes effect, Samaritan’s Purse is putting us up for the night, an unexpected pleasure. More later,” Pfefferle said.

The next day, the pair made it to the Ukrainian-Polish border. Pfefferle was able to send photos of families — mostly women and children, lined up, waiting to be processed.

“These pics taken very discreetly at the Polish-Ukrainian border, showing refugees coming into the Polish side. It’s much different seeing it in person than watching on TV. Humbling. Some have no facial expressions, some smiling to have gotten out,” Pfefferle said.

“We’ve been at border about an hour being processed. Much more going on here than we see from media in the US. Not totally sure what this emotion is at the moment. More later. Plan to set up our clinic this afternoon once we arrive in Ternopil.”

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Since Tuesday, Pfefferle has been able to do the work he went to Ukraine for — helping orphans who were pushed out of eastern Ukraine.

Pfefferle says when they had to leave the orphanage, the teachers joined them. The teachers are trying to keep the kids happy by conducting art class, soccer practice, and more.

Meanwhile, Pfefferle and his colleague Aday have been involved in cleanings, carrying out dental work on kids who had not been attended to in years, running food lines and doing other basic tasks to help.

But the trip has not been all easy. Pfefferle told Action News Jax they have already faced danger, explaining how they had to take cover from their first air raid while they were in Ukraine.

“So we pulled in to LVIV and stopped at a shopping area and just when paying for our food, we experienced our first air raid,” Pfefferle explained.

“Everyone hunkered down in an underground parking area. Broke my heart seeing how scared some of the children were,” Pfefferle said. “Didn’t think pulling out my camera was the best thing to do.”

Now, as they continue to help the children in Ukraine, Pfefferle tells us over text they are working to find more medical supplies.

“I spent most of the afternoon fielding calls and messaging people that had connections to medical supplies, met a retired military pilot whose job was front line logistics for front line medical supplies. He has opened up a corridor and is coming to Poland on April 2nd.” Pfefferle said.

“A couple of other owners of companies contacted me about helping. Everybody knows somebody who knows someone.”

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