I need help for our Ukrainian family and others

I am just an ordinary 45-year-old mum; watching the war unfold in Ukraine made me cry. The women escaping bombs falling with their children in their arms were me, just ordinary mums. One day they were living a normal life the next day fighting to survive. I still can't get my head around it. We sponsored a Ukrainian family, a mother and her two boys aged 4 and 11, their city Chernihiv had been bombed, they are now safe, but they are far from okay. I think all sponsors have gone into this without actually realising what they were signing up for, don’t get me wrong, I absolutely would not change it for a second, and I can’t imagine that I will ever not have them in my life. I did not realise I would get so attached to them so quickly, and it’s not just me; my little girl has all of a sudden got two ‘brothers’ to play with, I also did not realise how much there was to do, sometimes it feels overwhelming.

I need help, I never ask for help for anything but I’m admitting I can’t do this without support. We are sponsoring her mother now, we are currently in the process of sorting out her mother's accommodation; we will have to pay for flights to get her mother across.

I have also been organising (and helping to orgainse) free monthly events so we can bring families together; they need to form a support network. These women are only just keeping their heads above the water; if they don’t have support then some will go under. We will need funds for these events, so far we have relied on the support of local businesses, I would like to orgainse a special event at Christmas as I know this will be a particially difficult time. I also know of three other mothers all with two children each that I would like to get into the area (please contact me if you can host these women via my fb group).

I get told I’m getting to involved but it’s too late to back out now, I’ve jumped in with both feet and I am so so involved.

We all watch the news and think, I wish there is something I could do to help, well now there is. Help me to help them. If we all just donated what a half decent bottle of wine costs or a large skinny latte at Costa I can help make a difference to some of these families who have literally had their lives shattered.

Thank you

My name is Tracy Topliss, my family are Olha Sheremet (43), Oleksii Sheremet (11), Stepan Sheremet (4). Olha's mother is Valentya Savchenko https://www.facebook.com/groups/361957462584055