The holidays are a time for giving, and TruLife Distribution owner Brian Gould fully supports that concept — not just on a personal level but on a corporate one, too.
That is why Gould jumped at the opportunity to support one of his team members, Jaron Pak, when he heard that the writer and fellow business owner was leading a humanitarian mission to Moldova in Eastern Europe. The specific goal of that mission: to support struggling communities of orphans, widows, the elderly, and those with disabilities living in war-torn Eastern Europe.
A Focus on Food for Those in Need
The trip to Moldova started when Jaron made contact with a humanitarian aid worker in Romania named Pavel. Pavel had spent the past 33 years building up a network of social houses (foster homes) and feeding centers throughout Moldova. He had met Jaron on a trip to the U.S. 25 years earlier, and Jaron reconnected with him earlier in 2023. When he learned from Pavel of the ongoing need in Moldova’s foster system — exacerbated by the nearby war in Ukraine — Jaron decided to raise funds and put together a trip to support Pavel’s ongoing mission in the region.
When TruLife founder and CEO Brian Gould heard that Jaron was raising funds to purchase food, clothing, and school supplies for the underprivileged in Moldova, he reached out without hesitation. He knew the trip was important, and the fact that a member of his team would directly be on the ground, providing intimate oversight, made it that much easier to commit resources to the endeavor.
Jaron and another American partner traveled to Moldova for nine days from October 24th through November 1st. During that time, the pair connected with their Romanian contact and worked with the local social houses to collect and distribute 27.5 tons of food — more than Pavel had ever distributed before. This consisted of a wide variety of staple items, including:
- Carrots
- Potatoes
- Onions
- Biscuits
- Cooking oil
- Flour
- Sugar
- Canned pork
- Rice
- Corn meal
- Butter
- Pasta
The result of the food distribution is that around 15 social houses and feeding centers scattered across southern and eastern Moldova will have food through March.
The Need for Food and Other Supplies in Moldova
The food distribution portion of the trip was critical, as the foster homes and feeding centers are currently managing extremely high heating costs and other elevated expenses due to the nearby conflict between Ukraine and Russia. Many of the social houses are completely full of children looking for a stable home and consistent life.
With that in mind, the team was also able to provide a large donation of school supplies and winter boots. These will enable the children to walk to school and effectively maintain their education throughout the winter.
Due to the consumable nature of both the food and other supplies, Jaron plans on making future trips to the region to continue working with the existing network. He is immensely grateful for the part TruLife played in making this initial effort such a resounding success.
Making an Impact Outside of Everyday Business
Gould and the TruLife team are no strangers to supporting humanitarian aid efforts. Nevertheless, it was a unique pleasure to support one of their own as he headed overseas and directly impacted such a large number of individuals in need.
It is part of a larger business ethic that Gould has infused into the fabric of his company, even as his team tends to the daily work of helping health and wellness brands effectively expand their organizations within the United States marketplace.
