A college alumnus, father of a current Principia College student, and volunteer based in Saint Louis is on his fourth trip to Ukraine to deliver supplies to those in the war-torn country, and perhaps to save lives.  

Since his first trip in March 2022, Jon Heath has worked with several independent networks of volunteers, bringing aid directly to people who are impacted by the war in Ukraine. His latest trip began on Oct. 17, and he plans to return by Thanksgiving. 

Heath said he was initially focused on delivering food and clothing. However as the war progressed, the focus shifted to providing soldiers with bulletproof vests. “So far, we’ve saved three soldiers’ lives,” Heath said.

Heath said he was shocked when the full-scale invasion happened in February 2022. 

“I never thought something like that could happen. I grew up during a time when people were afraid of Russia. When they attacked, I knew I had to do something to help,” he said.

Instead of sending money, Heath said he decided it would be more effective to go to Ukraine in person and find out what people actually needed. Heath recognized that this isn’t the type of thing that most people have the instinct to do, so he said he first knew he needed to get his family’s support. 

“I wouldn’t go if my wife wasn’t on board with it. I asked her and our kids if they were okay with me going, and they said yes,” he said. His wife, sister, and mom then helped him raise money for supplies during his first few trips.

Heath’s son, Rex Heath, is a Biology major at Prin. He said he remembers a text message his father sent to a family group chat, saying that he wanted “to go over to Poland and help.” Rex Heath remembered his dad saying something like “I want to be more directly helpful rather than just sitting around.”

At first, his son was a bit concerned. 

“My initial reaction to my father’s plan was that he doesn’t know what he’s walking to. He also doesn’t have any experience in the field in regards to being in an active warzone,” Rex Heath said.

And yet, Rex Heath described his father as a dedicated leader who “leads by example” and is guided strongly by his morals. “He’s willing to put it all on the line to help others,” he said, noting his father’s deep commitment to Christian Science. 

It’s not just supporting the people of Ukraine that Jon Heath has in mind. He spoke to The Pilot on a recent visit to the campus as a guest lecturer to share his experience after he and his wife biked across the country to raise awareness and money for youth Christian Science camp scholarship funds. 

Jon Heath has volunteered with many organizations, but he said this experience was different. “It’s the farthest I’ve traveled, and the first time I’ve gone to a warzone.” Despite the risks, Jon Heath said he finds it rewarding, “It feels good to know I’m bringing people things they need to get by. And there are lots of other people helping too, not just me,” he said.

Other than helping by delivering supplies, Jon Heath said he valued the opportunity to share information about Ukraine with people back home. He said people at home don’t always get to see a full picture of what’s happening on the ground in the war-torn country, but he hopes to give Americans a better understanding of the situation. He also said he can bring support and messages to Ukrainians about how Americans feel regarding the war.

Jon Heath has been an active member of the Principia Community for decades. He transferred to Principia College from the University of Oregon and graduated in 1990 with a degree in Political Science. Shortly after, he went to work in youth development, which included working as head of a Christian Science summer camp. He then went on to work for the Principia School as director of student activity and also worked in the middle school dorm for nearly a decade. He has also helped some Ukrainian students connect with the school in an effort to ensure they get a good education while being safe.

One of those students, Ivan Vashchenko, a Computer Science and Mechanical Engineering double major at the college, said Jon Heath played a key role in his decision to attend Principia. “We had a conversation at the beginning of the war, and by that time he was already in Ukraine,” Vashchenko said. “He has such a deep dedication and passion for helping people struggling during the war. Jon Heath represented the whole Principia community to me, and I realized that I wanted to be a part of that community. That’s why I chose to come to Principia.”

Jon Heath said he finds value in supporting Ukraine’s young democracy. 

“Everybody wants to be self-governed if they are given the opportunity, but if you’re living in a place where the government says you will never have the opportunity to be self-governed then you lose hope. The Ukrainians want the opportunity to make their own decisions: where they live, and how they raise their children. They want so desperately to be Europeans,” he said.

Vashchenko described Jon Heath as an exemplary. 

“He’s an unbelievable person,” Vashchenko said. “The level of dedication and his extreme level of empathy… it’s difficult for people in the US to understand what people are going through in Ukraine. Going there to help people is just unbelievable.”