NELSON COUNTY, Va. (CBS19 NEWS) -- The Wintergreen Fire and Rescue Station 2 has been making continuous efforts to send supplies, donations, and more to help ease the struggles citizens are facing in Ukraine.

“We have partnered with a company that has been shipping fire and EMS-related supplies directly to Ukraine. And we serve as a collection point for any fire departments in Virginia south of us, and then we haul all the stuff to Fredericksburg,” said Chief Curtis Sheets.

And the department is doing more than just donating. One volunteer firefighter got first-hand experience of helping Ukrainian children, who would have been kidnapped by Russians. 

Marcus Albertson just returned from Poland after helping staff an orphanage there, and he said it changed his life for the better. 

“I don’t know if it was a religious thing or something, but it called to me,” added Albertson. 

Each day, he would wear a lot of hats and do everything from cooking breakfast to teaching English.

But most importantly, he wanted to make the children smile, especially in the Wintergreen gear donated by the fire department.

Albertson says the resilience of the children had the greatest impact on him. 

“It’s not the children’s fault where or what happened to them, so these kids have a great chance of life now. And now, they’re getting so well taken care of,” he added. 

Albertson is just one of the many Wintergreen firefighters who are trying to make a difference.

Wintergreen Fire and Rescue adds that people don’t have to go overseas to help, as there are plenty of things in which to participate locally that will make a difference.  

“Being a volunteer for the fire department or EMS, you don’t have to fight fires, you can help in so many other ways,” said Albertson.

To volunteer at Wintergreen Fire and Rescue, click here.