Bringing hope
February 2022 war began.
We all watched in horror as columns of Russian tanks advanced toward Kyiv.
That was the moment our lives changed, and fear settled in the hearts of millions. Television reports showed the destruction, chaos, and despair that rapidly engulfed Ukraine.
Soon after, our thoughts turned to the suffering of people forced to flee their homes.
A moment later, long lines of refugees began to appear at the border.
Among them were children, women, and elderly individuals. They were all united by one common element – fear for the future. Refugees with fading hopes in their eyes, their fates seemingly dependent on distant decisions, began arriving in Warsaw.
With each passing day, their numbers grew, and we faced the challenge not only of understanding their sorrow but also of helping them.
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
​
​
A little over three months later, we got into cars loaded with aid, heading east to Zaporizhia. Our mission was to deliver food and hygiene supplies to those who had lost everything. On the way to Zaporizhia, we encountered serious difficulties – a lack of fuel at gas stations, frequent military checkpoints. However, every obstacle only strengthened our resolve and conviction that our mission was meaningful. At one point, we reached Hulyaipole, a town situated on the front line of the fighting. Just before entering, we received tactical vests. It was only then that we realized how close we were to real danger.
The first thing we saw was the destruction – devastated homes that had been shelters for families for years now lay in ruins.
As we touched this harsh reality, people began to emerge from the basements where they had been forced to hide from shelling. Their gratitude as they accepted our support was moving. They returned to places that had once been their homes, standing tall as if in a gesture of defiance. Someone with fear in their eyes pleaded, “Wait for my neighbor, she’ll be coming soon!”
I cannot forget the smell of the first basement we entered. Darkness, dampness, and mold were pervasive. Inside, we saw beds propped up on bricks, and in the corner, an 11-year-old boy stared at us. His uncertain eyes begged for an extra package for his grandmother, and his innocence revealed the tragedy of the situation.
Since that first humanitarian mission, we have visited Ukraine dozens of times.
In the meantime, we have frequently found ourselves in truly difficult situations. We have survived shellings and bombings. Once, we fled from gunfire that was aimed directly at us. This experience was hard to describe; emotions and tension seemed to fill the air around us.
Despite the fear, we always felt protected. We felt the umbrella of prayers from hundreds of people praying for us.
When I think about this mission, I don’t want to focus on the numbers, although they speak for themselves. Over 2.800.000 pounds of food delivered directly to people in towns near the front, nearly 200 generators, several thousand pairs of shoes and winter jackets, containers of clothing – all of this is just a drop in the ocean of needs.
The last year has brought changes to our service. At one point, we realized that we could not completely replace social assistance. Even delivering 50 tons of food monthly seemed like just a drop in the face of the enormous dramas that were unfolding.
We began to bring more than just bread – we sent hope and love from our Lord and Savior.
We focused on the most needy and poorest of Jewish descent, a people we feel called to help.
This does not mean that we limit ourselves solely to our brothers. At the beginning of this year, we managed to organize significant assistance for one and a half thousand children in Nikopol, and together with our friends, we are organizing more projects.
​
Thanks to the support of a large family of believers around the world, we have been able to continue our mission. We are determined to keep helping because what we have experienced over these three years has also become the essence of our lives.
We hope that through our actions, we can bring a little light to this dark world in which so many people still struggle to survive.