Tampa, Florida. The Florida-photographed duo decided they wanted to do more than just watch what's happening in Ukraine, so they decided to capture history and make a difference.
Dave Miller and Meagan Gumpert Maven Photo + Film started in January 2020. What started as a wedding and event photography business has now completed a full 180 with their work now relocated to Poland and Ukraine.
"It's a way for us to give back," Miller said. "We're kind of able to use the skills we have for good to help people see what's going on with our eyes sort of from a local perspective."
To achieve these documents, the duo collaborated with the Crossroads Alliance and non-profit ministries. Organization President Steve Ewing has helped relief efforts for more than 20 years across the state and county, but this was the first time in Europe.
Miller said, “The most important thing for Steve was to know directly where the money was going. He made sure there was no corruption. He wanted to make sure it was the most efficient way to use the donations.”
The team first traveled to Poland and didn't know what to expect. The only thing they can expect is what they've seen on the news through videos of mass graves, bombed buildings, and families scrambling to flee.
What they found or did not find in Poland, in this respect, was a surprise, Miller and Gumbert said.
"We got there and a lot of beds were empty," Gumpert said. "People have already come in and then they've moved."
The duo in Warsaw and Chelm, Poland, said they saw some families but it wasn't as often as they were expecting.
“We knew that Warsaw and some of the big cities already had systems in place to sort of deal with people coming in,” Gompert said.
One could say that she was a sliver of light in the depths of despair, but they soon found out in Ukraine.
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The sirens went off while she was at a train station in Ukraine. They ride in their truck to seek refuge and find that only a window separates them from the desperation of others.
“Women start banging on the door of this truck you know kind of yell at us in Ukrainian like they want to ride,” Gumpert said. “They want our truck. They don’t care where we are going. They don’t care who we are. They just want to get out of there. It was This level of despair is difficult.”
Despair and hope are as far apart as they are in combat. Miller and Gumbert testified to humanity in humility and hoped that others would, too.
"Even when the war is over, there is still a lot of rebuilding," Gumpert said. "It's not going to be done in two weeks."
The two plan to travel again with the Crossroads and Ministry Alliance in the near future to aid in more aid efforts. To learn more about the nonprofit and how to help, visit their website.
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