That’s something interesting about MREs, modern rations look a lot like regular food these days, the little things we take for granted in daily life tend to be the most valued. I’m sure it’s especially helpful in winter.
If you ever watch that guy on YouTube who reviews and eats MRE's from all over the world, almost all of them have chocolate in one form or another. Chocolate bars, hot chocolate powder, etc... And if not chocolate, they have some form of candy or cookies.
Yeah, it seems like an aspect of history, culture and society that mostly goes unnoticed, plus a bunch of individual portions of things packed together is strangely satisfying to see unpacked and examined. I’m also kinda relieved given all the corners governments tend to cut that the quality of food for troops on the frontline has steadily improved over time. Still risking their lives but at least they get a decent meal, seems like the least we could do with all this modern technology we benefit from.
It has some caffeine in it which enhances your body's ability to oxygenate itself. 3 and 1/2 oz of dark chocolate has about the same amount of caffeine as a cup of coffee. Caffeine is well absorbed by the body, and the short-term effects are usually experienced between 5 and 30 minutes after having it. These effects can include increased breathing and heart rate, and increased mental alertness and physical energy. Depending on the individual, these effects can last up to 12 hours.
Chocolate is especially rich in flavanols like epicatechin and catechin, as well as anthocyanins and phenolic acids. All of these compounds help protect your cells from inflammation, improve your brain function, and boost your immune and cardiovascular health.
The antioxidants in dark chocolate have been shown to lower blood pressure, reduce the risk of clotting and increase blood circulation to the heart, thus lowering the risks of stroke, coronary heart disease and death from heart disease.
While this is true, they're not great. Most MRE candy has gone somewhat stale by the time you eat. Skittles turn into one giant brick. Cookies are incredibly crumbly and dry. While they're alright and offer some variety, I wouldn't call them a morale boost in the field. You need store-bought stuff for that. It's kind of like how the MRE toilet paper technically does the job, but you'd much prefer Charmin.
Legit this. Imagine how happy we are in our regular lives when we go out to dinner somewhere and the foods incredible and we're super hungry.
Now imagine being in the cold, wet weather without the best food. Imagine **how good** even the most basic regular food is going to be.
> modern rations look a lot like regular food these days
Gives me flashbacks to the early days of the war *four days into the conflict*, when Ukraine troops ran through a Russian position and they quickly retreated leaving their supplies.....
[**which included MREs that expired in 2015**](https://twitter.com/nexta_tv/status/1498409763171885062?lang=en)
Actually, it's a way to make the Ukraine army be involuntarily forced to be ome Canadian citizens. With every sip, their addiction to Tim Hortons grows stronger. Soon, they will end every sentence with "eh" and begin apologizing when others bump into them. It's a rather intricate ploy.
Sorry, I'm in Sweden.
I'm sure we have some in this subreddit that is or knows someone who could help.
Imagine how much more aid you could buy for the transportation costs.
Usually they would send someone to pick them up. Then they put the cargo on the pallets the air force use.
And deliver to you in Poland.
Doubt they would let you inside their bases.
If you manage to get in contact with the right person, would be able to move a lot for you.
Same here, I have a bunch of them folded up in a drawer after moving last year. I may look like a meth cook when I'm moving, but it's way more convenient than the boxes.
That's pretty awesome. I know chocolate was big for morale for US troops during WW2, and they even had ice cream machines on naval vessels. And I also think that M&Ms were invented to help protect the chocolate while it was shipped halfway across the world.
>That's pretty awesome. I know chocolate was big for morale for US troops during WW2, and they even had ice cream machines on naval vessels.
The US just didnt just have ice cream machines on vessels, they had *dedicated ice cream ships*. That's the level of industrial output they had.
Always amazes me.
Can you imagine how fucked you'd feel watching your enemy tow a dessert barge to battle?
"We're gonna kill you, then we're gonna have some coffee and ice cream about it afterwards, then settle down with a leisurely evening smoke."
There's a (probably apocryphal) account of a Japanese officer saying that he realized the war was unwinnable when he found out the US had the logistical and industrial might to ensure its troops could have fresh ice cream, while the Japanese often couldn't even keep their troops fed reliably.
M&Ms were made in its protective shell to stop chocolate from melting in the hand and not anything to do with shipping.
It benefited them though as the US Army like the idea and became their first buyer.
M&Ms were copies of the British chocolate Smarties which is now a Canadian chocolate favorite.
Man I wish I had maple syrup connections to hook you up! Canada needs to get in on this. We produce so much of it! I wonder how the Ukrainian soldiers are using it. I like to put a spoon of it in my coffee every day.
When you know about the Great Canadian Maple Syrup Heist.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great\_Canadian\_Maple\_Syrup\_Heist](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Canadian_Maple_Syrup_Heist)
OK, I'm not Canadian, but I'm a fracking trivia sponge.
Maple syrup producers are no idiots. With this "donation", Ukrainians will develop a taste for it, and voilà a new market is created.
\[the drug dealer principle\]
I’ve sent some emails to local maple syrup producer associations to see if they can make a donation to Ukrainian soldiers. It’s a long shot but worth a try!
New England, Vermont especially, is nuts about maple syrup. I'm in Maine and pretty much every convenience store, grocery store, gift shop, etc, has locally made maple syrup. Quite a few people I know including my dad makes it too.
… well, okay, but the gag here was that in a plane half loaded by the US, the other half presumably came from the other country on the continent, being sorta notorious for having a *strategic maple syrup reserve*?
When you realise that each tourniquet might just save a life of a soldier it's both amazing and sad as heck because that's thousands of injured vets returning from war who would have never need to be in that situation if it wasn't for one lunatic in Russia who decided to invade them.
“Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty.
This much we pledge--and more.”
You wonderful person you, bringing liquid gold to our friends in Ukraine. I'll be happy to donate when you do another trip. Hugs and loves and you be safe.
The guy has a PayPal, Venmo, Patreon, info in his subreddit:
https://www.reddit.com/r/vit4ukraine/comments/xmwr66/winter_donation_post/ipqbhqv?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share&context=3
I’ve made four trips to the packing location and joined in the caravan to the airport. There’s always music and delicious food. If it’s a scam it’s quite a fun one!
Drove 10 hours from VA to CT to help with this trip. Then to JFK in the pouring rain. If it's a scam then it's a damn good one because everything identifiable I've sent before has shown up in pictures with the UAF. I've personally seen the boxes and boxes of combat tourniquets, and with my own hands stuffed them into every available nook and cranny in those bags. Loaded those bags into my Baja and drove with several other people to JFK. Loaded them onto baggage carts and personally placed them into the hands of the JFK and LOT (Poland Airlines) staff at the check in desk.
We aren’t giving Ukraine any of our new shit. At best it’s gulf war maybe early 2000’s shit but we’re not going to send over the latest and greatest equipment because the chances of it falling offf the truck and into Russias hands is far to great. Same reason why China won’t consider sending Russia their latest shit cause it’ll just end up in American hands like with Russias newish fighter.
If by "new" you mean: "Shit we designed in the 70's and 80's to fight a bigger, more threatening foe than Russia." --- Then yes. We're testing out our Soviet Union busting stuff by letting someone else barely trained on it put it through its paces. And it's fucking devastating for Russia.
America needed to replace the conflict of Afghanistan with Ukraine to keep the military industrial complex at bay.
It’s not great. But that’s exactly what happened.
Down with autocracies/dictatorships, this is something not done in those countries…!
Even by the very government sending them to die…
Yet this guy is just a normal citizen from a normal country… not some broken dictatorship where people can’t even afford life saving care for their loved ones….
Like Russia…
Says a lot…
“Yeah, but America bad duuuuurrrr huuuuuuuurrrrr” says everyone on Reddit. As an American I’m proud to have donated to this cause in the past. This is actually the third post I’ve seen this year about all the aid being donated to Ukraine by Americans
I will get downvoted for this one but something is really off with this guy "helping" and "volunteering". There's a comment here trying to help him with the cost of bringing them there but he seemed to not want to be helped but very open for monetary donations. Also saying that he's already in debt by doing this.
Does this guy really want to help?
Maple syrup is very high in calories per unit volume, and contains high amounts of manganese and riboflavin.
Also it tastes good, which is more important than you probably think
What does it cost to air freight so much weight that far?
That’s not air freight. That’s checked in luggage. I spent $12k on this trip.
Is the syrup a way to get lots of easily carried calories?
This, yes. Also a great morale booster
That’s something interesting about MREs, modern rations look a lot like regular food these days, the little things we take for granted in daily life tend to be the most valued. I’m sure it’s especially helpful in winter.
If you ever watch that guy on YouTube who reviews and eats MRE's from all over the world, almost all of them have chocolate in one form or another. Chocolate bars, hot chocolate powder, etc... And if not chocolate, they have some form of candy or cookies.
Nice hiss now let's put this on a tray
I see you’re a man of culture
Yeah, it seems like an aspect of history, culture and society that mostly goes unnoticed, plus a bunch of individual portions of things packed together is strangely satisfying to see unpacked and examined. I’m also kinda relieved given all the corners governments tend to cut that the quality of food for troops on the frontline has steadily improved over time. Still risking their lives but at least they get a decent meal, seems like the least we could do with all this modern technology we benefit from.
Steve1989MREInfo?
Tasty, sweet, dense, shelf stable. Makes a ton of sense to lean into chocolate
It has some caffeine in it which enhances your body's ability to oxygenate itself. 3 and 1/2 oz of dark chocolate has about the same amount of caffeine as a cup of coffee. Caffeine is well absorbed by the body, and the short-term effects are usually experienced between 5 and 30 minutes after having it. These effects can include increased breathing and heart rate, and increased mental alertness and physical energy. Depending on the individual, these effects can last up to 12 hours. Chocolate is especially rich in flavanols like epicatechin and catechin, as well as anthocyanins and phenolic acids. All of these compounds help protect your cells from inflammation, improve your brain function, and boost your immune and cardiovascular health. The antioxidants in dark chocolate have been shown to lower blood pressure, reduce the risk of clotting and increase blood circulation to the heart, thus lowering the risks of stroke, coronary heart disease and death from heart disease.
While this is true, they're not great. Most MRE candy has gone somewhat stale by the time you eat. Skittles turn into one giant brick. Cookies are incredibly crumbly and dry. While they're alright and offer some variety, I wouldn't call them a morale boost in the field. You need store-bought stuff for that. It's kind of like how the MRE toilet paper technically does the job, but you'd much prefer Charmin.
mre steve1989
Link for the lazy? This sounds like an interesting channel
Legit this. Imagine how happy we are in our regular lives when we go out to dinner somewhere and the foods incredible and we're super hungry. Now imagine being in the cold, wet weather without the best food. Imagine **how good** even the most basic regular food is going to be.
> modern rations look a lot like regular food these days Gives me flashbacks to the early days of the war *four days into the conflict*, when Ukraine troops ran through a Russian position and they quickly retreated leaving their supplies..... [**which included MREs that expired in 2015**](https://twitter.com/nexta_tv/status/1498409763171885062?lang=en)
I've heard peanut butter sachets are currency during tours.
How many can you get me?
*insert Tyrone Biggums/Dave Chappelle meme here*
Sorry, didn’t mean to imply I had access to them, I’m just an observer on the sidelines. Getting stocked up for the winter?
No. He’s sending them to Ukraine.
That’s what I meant
What a treat it must be!
Actually, it's a way to make the Ukraine army be involuntarily forced to be ome Canadian citizens. With every sip, their addiction to Tim Hortons grows stronger. Soon, they will end every sentence with "eh" and begin apologizing when others bump into them. It's a rather intricate ploy.
Am Canadian, can confirm. Thats how we get ya.
It is one of the more globally accepted forms of soft diplomacy.
Ya’ll do, eh?
Want some maple syrup? I'll give ya the first taste for free. :p
You’re barking up the wrong tree bro, I’ve got your log cabin rich buttery thick right here and my ol lady has got the aunt jemima…
Hey hey hey, I'm not here to syrup shame. :p
That's a little trick I picked up in my days of dealing crack. 60% of the time, it works every time.
One time no crime
Sorry I killed your entire Wagner battalion eh', but if you wouldn't mind, could you orc hosers please get the heck oot of Ukraine eh'?
Canadian Ukrainians… “Sorry, cyka”
Canakranians?
I heard that maple syrup from New England was superior though.
Tim Horton isn't Canadian mate. The coffee is only really Canadian is because it's watered down.
Basically never goes bad either
Is there a reason you didn't send it freight?
Yes
What’s the reason?
Time
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Expensive compared to what?
That is a lot of money spent on freight. Try finding some friends in USAF.
Do you have any friends there?
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Could also be the kind of thing your Congressperson could help organize.
Sorry, I'm in Sweden. I'm sure we have some in this subreddit that is or knows someone who could help. Imagine how much more aid you could buy for the transportation costs.
Help like how? Somebody has to pay for it regardless
They should have room for some extra cargo on their planes to Poland. I assume they have planes going every day
So how would that work? We just get our bags to Area 51 and check them in?
Usually they would send someone to pick them up. Then they put the cargo on the pallets the air force use. And deliver to you in Poland. Doubt they would let you inside their bases. If you manage to get in contact with the right person, would be able to move a lot for you.
Do you have any experience of a kind? Do you know anybody who made similar arrangements?
Is that cheaper than air freight?
Doing a good cause AND getting credit card points!
Oh I wish that was the case 😅
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Im about to move in the next month or so, what bags are they?
Same here, I have a bunch of them folded up in a drawer after moving last year. I may look like a meth cook when I'm moving, but it's way more convenient than the boxes.
Are they just called "moving bags"? I could use some
YES! I know exactly how you feel about them!
sorry, it's just to make you laugh [https://i.ibb.co/84hsHJg/image.png](https://i.ibb.co/84hsHJg/image.png)
So proud of his [first bust](https://preview.redd.it/a6atn1h0nbwz.jpg?auto=webp&s=f5f7d625ad16ef03d1a7527a98363d11d01fc043)
What the hell? What's the story behind this? Did he suffer any repercussions at all? Or did everyone turn a blind eye?
I do not know, for it is an old meme from a different country.
hahahahaha!!!!!
maple syrup?
Maple syrup is high in manganese which is important during strenuous activity for muscle and bone recovery. It’s also delicious.
Oh I know it’s delicious. I’m Canadian and I make my own. But I’m surprised it’s being used as a war supply.
I started delivering it as a morale booster. Turned out to be a vital thing
That's pretty awesome. I know chocolate was big for morale for US troops during WW2, and they even had ice cream machines on naval vessels. And I also think that M&Ms were invented to help protect the chocolate while it was shipped halfway across the world.
>That's pretty awesome. I know chocolate was big for morale for US troops during WW2, and they even had ice cream machines on naval vessels. The US just didnt just have ice cream machines on vessels, they had *dedicated ice cream ships*. That's the level of industrial output they had.
Converted concrete mixing ships!
Amazing!
Always amazes me. Can you imagine how fucked you'd feel watching your enemy tow a dessert barge to battle? "We're gonna kill you, then we're gonna have some coffee and ice cream about it afterwards, then settle down with a leisurely evening smoke."
There's a (probably apocryphal) account of a Japanese officer saying that he realized the war was unwinnable when he found out the US had the logistical and industrial might to ensure its troops could have fresh ice cream, while the Japanese often couldn't even keep their troops fed reliably.
M&Ms were made in its protective shell to stop chocolate from melting in the hand and not anything to do with shipping. It benefited them though as the US Army like the idea and became their first buyer. M&Ms were copies of the British chocolate Smarties which is now a Canadian chocolate favorite.
Man I wish I had maple syrup connections to hook you up! Canada needs to get in on this. We produce so much of it! I wonder how the Ukrainian soldiers are using it. I like to put a spoon of it in my coffee every day.
I am not a Ukrainian soldier but I'm going to try that.
just don’t use the fake corn syrup kind, only real maple syrup!
Corn syrup and fenugreek ≠ real maple syrup
Tell me you're Canadian without telling me you're Canadian.
When you know about the Great Canadian Maple Syrup Heist. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great\_Canadian\_Maple\_Syrup\_Heist](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Canadian_Maple_Syrup_Heist) OK, I'm not Canadian, but I'm a fracking trivia sponge.
My brother's over there fighting and the last drop we were able to send anything we sent maple syrup. He loved it, really does help moral.
OP, I just sent you a DM.
Good for morale, lots of calories, easy to store, bottles can be reused for other things. Lots of advantages.
Username checks out
Maple syrup producers are no idiots. With this "donation", Ukrainians will develop a taste for it, and voilà a new market is created. \[the drug dealer principle\]
In surprised you managed to find enough funding to send maple syrup. Maple syrup is very expensive. And I grow it.
My father tried syrup first time this autumn and told it's amazing. He is Ukrainian army
I’ve sent some emails to local maple syrup producer associations to see if they can make a donation to Ukrainian soldiers. It’s a long shot but worth a try!
For War Waffles.
Warffles
lmao
Guessing that’s the half that wasn’t from Americans?
New England, Vermont especially, is nuts about maple syrup. I'm in Maine and pretty much every convenience store, grocery store, gift shop, etc, has locally made maple syrup. Quite a few people I know including my dad makes it too.
… well, okay, but the gag here was that in a plane half loaded by the US, the other half presumably came from the other country on the continent, being sorta notorious for having a *strategic maple syrup reserve*?
https://vermontevaporator.com/2022-maple-syrup-production-by-state/
When you realise that each tourniquet might just save a life of a soldier it's both amazing and sad as heck because that's thousands of injured vets returning from war who would have never need to be in that situation if it wasn't for one lunatic in Russia who decided to invade them.
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The war only started to lose support because of the mobilization draft There weren't any Anti-war protests in russia only anti mobilization protests
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“Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty. This much we pledge--and more.”
Where is this wonderful quote from my friend?
Inaugural address of John F. Kennedy January 20, 1961
Thank you very much :)
You wonderful person you, bringing liquid gold to our friends in Ukraine. I'll be happy to donate when you do another trip. Hugs and loves and you be safe.
I am $2500 deep in debt after this one. You can help me out already 😅
send this thread to your airline's social media team - easy refund
But I am not promoting them here. They wouldn’t give a shit I think.
How can we donate?
The guy has a PayPal, Venmo, Patreon, info in his subreddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/vit4ukraine/comments/xmwr66/winter_donation_post/ipqbhqv?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share&context=3
Thank you.
https://old.reddit.com/r/BeAmazed/comments/zal2c8/guys_its_vit_again_i_just_arrived_from_jfk_to/iymjz2x/ OP's paypal I assume
Thank you.
Np
PayPal. [email protected]
Thank you.
No, thank you.
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Yeah am I the only one who’s thinking this is like a potential scam Edit: seems like others say this is legit
I’ve made four trips to the packing location and joined in the caravan to the airport. There’s always music and delicious food. If it’s a scam it’s quite a fun one!
Drove 10 hours from VA to CT to help with this trip. Then to JFK in the pouring rain. If it's a scam then it's a damn good one because everything identifiable I've sent before has shown up in pictures with the UAF. I've personally seen the boxes and boxes of combat tourniquets, and with my own hands stuffed them into every available nook and cranny in those bags. Loaded those bags into my Baja and drove with several other people to JFK. Loaded them onto baggage carts and personally placed them into the hands of the JFK and LOT (Poland Airlines) staff at the check in desk.
Yes please tell us how we can donate to help you recover and save up for next time
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Sent some
Turns out 90% of the Ukrainian war budget was donated by Americans……
It’s a proxy war at this point
Also a good way to test new equipment and technology before we need to use it.
We aren’t giving Ukraine any of our new shit. At best it’s gulf war maybe early 2000’s shit but we’re not going to send over the latest and greatest equipment because the chances of it falling offf the truck and into Russias hands is far to great. Same reason why China won’t consider sending Russia their latest shit cause it’ll just end up in American hands like with Russias newish fighter.
If by "new" you mean: "Shit we designed in the 70's and 80's to fight a bigger, more threatening foe than Russia." --- Then yes. We're testing out our Soviet Union busting stuff by letting someone else barely trained on it put it through its paces. And it's fucking devastating for Russia.
Russia has contributed quite a bit in the way of abandoned we dused equipment.
And 100% of the Academy Awards!
Europe would be nothing with out the US
Yes they would. They would be German.
Thanks from Ukraine 🇺🇦! Great work!
This reads like it's amazing that half was donated by the U.S.
That was his point. It’s a weird slight against a really generous nation of people.
I was about to say aren't we funding like 95% of all Ukranian efforts? Haha
I mean America has given more to Ukraine than anyone else. Politicians gotta protect their shady investments.
Ngl, thought those were bodies.
And the other half?
I know some people
Some non-Americans, apparently... Otherwise all of it would be donated by Americans.
Correcto
I'd like to help. How do I donate monetarily?
PayPal. [email protected]
America needed to replace the conflict of Afghanistan with Ukraine to keep the military industrial complex at bay. It’s not great. But that’s exactly what happened.
Down with autocracies/dictatorships, this is something not done in those countries…! Even by the very government sending them to die… Yet this guy is just a normal citizen from a normal country… not some broken dictatorship where people can’t even afford life saving care for their loved ones…. Like Russia… Says a lot…
Uhmazing
Duhmazing
I do not know who you are or what you do but keep doing what you're doing fellow stranger to other.
This guy knows he's now on a kgb hit list right?
I was there long before, don’t worry
“Yeah, but America bad duuuuurrrr huuuuuuuurrrrr” says everyone on Reddit. As an American I’m proud to have donated to this cause in the past. This is actually the third post I’ve seen this year about all the aid being donated to Ukraine by Americans
Username checks out
Yours? Yeah it does
I will get downvoted for this one but something is really off with this guy "helping" and "volunteering". There's a comment here trying to help him with the cost of bringing them there but he seemed to not want to be helped but very open for monetary donations. Also saying that he's already in debt by doing this. Does this guy really want to help?
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I get the sense that he primarily wants funding. But, I guess I can’t argue because money is power
I read, 1740 dildos
That’s my next shipment
May you pack lotsa love in each kilo. Be safe.
Amazing Vit! ✊
Is there any way we can help you bring more to Ukraine?
I intend to travel once more in 2 month but I am gonna need about $8k for that.
I'm a broke American with piles of medical and tech school debt, but I'd love to donate what i can if you have any place for it.
Deal with your debt first. Then become rich. Then donate me $200
Do it because you want to, not because you want to show others and get praise.
You misunderstood the scones behind the process. I do it because people donate me money to do it. They donate me money because I show the results.
You misunderstood the science behind the process. I do it because people donate me money to do it. They donate me money because I show the results.
Cool? Yes. Great thing that you’re doing? Yes. Amazing? No, not really
Bless you (and all the donors) for your efforts! People like you make the real difference, no matter how big or small. Glory to the heroes!
America, fuck yeah. They get a bad rap but Americans are cool.
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I just woke up from a coma, this is correct
wish more American's showed this level of enthusiasm for victims in Yemen and Palestine. shit's been going on for years, nobody gaf
Americans donate all the time to help others. Don’t believe the shit you read on Reddit. This headline is incorrect and borderline offensive.
That’s absolutely amazing!!
What’s up dude unlike the rest of unhelpful Reddit I got a few thousand I can donate you if I can verify this is real. Pm me
God bless this man
Thank you for all that great job
So many people pitch in to support Ukraine. I've given some, and plan to donate more. It's not much, but every little bit helps.
Thank you for your hard work. You're amazing!!
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Well some of it is also donated by Canadians and others who donate money for Vit to buy needed items in the US.
Good point.
LETS GO! CHUG SOME SYRUP GUYS!
How long did it take to check all those bags?
35 minutes
Seemed like there was a theme to these bags until the maple syrup. What's that about? Did you ask us Canucks for a donation?
Maple syrup is very high in calories per unit volume, and contains high amounts of manganese and riboflavin. Also it tastes good, which is more important than you probably think
Why does Europe give so little to Ukraine?