Help refugees from Ukraine

Hi friends, below please read a story from a family of 7 who fled Ukraine a few days ago. We helped them settle in my hometown Lodz in a small apartment. My friends in Poland are stepping up daily to make sure Alena and her family have everything they need but we are collecting money that will be used for apartment rent, clothes, food, and, basic necessities. Here is the heartbreaking story of their escape from Kyiv. 
"Good evening

February 24 at 5:30 in the morning we heard strong explosions, not far away. TV news said that the Russian Federation attacked Ukraine. Panic swept instantly; On the third day of the war, a curfew was declared for 36 hours; it was impossible to go outside except during the quiet time. Every day, sirens were heard several times a day, and explosions were heard. Every day we were afraid at the onset of darkness as it became even worse. In our shelter, we had warm blankets, pillows, cardboard boxes, and stocks of food that we were able to buy in stores.

We spent the first weeknights in a dusty basement and slept on the floor, on cardboard boxes. Rockets flew over our house, we saw them more than once; there were explosions, it was terrifying to see and hear. We went home only to cook food, if we had time, and went back down to the shelter. Every evening we were overcome with fear, we huddled with each other trying to fall asleep. We live on the outskirts of Kyiv saw how the city of Bucha was burning, Vasilkov, Gostomel, Irpin, Zhytomyr, and heard several explosions. Everywhere we looked, everything was burning. Over time, at the sound of the siren, children got used to quickly dressing, grabbing their emergency bags, and running to the shelter or the bathroom. I fall asleep with a prayer and wake up thanking God that we are alive.

On the second week of the war, the children fell ill from living in the basement. Despite the curfew, we had to go to the hospital, which is not far from us, where we were given help.

My stepfather, together with my mother, took up volunteering. They distributed antiseptics and creams from the company to our defenders of Kyiv. Around us, all acquaintances and friends left the city en masse. The news constantly talked about rockets flying into residential buildings, hospitals, maternity hospitals, and churches.

Shortly before our departure, they began to evacuate Bucha, Irpin, Gostomel, and other cities in the Kyiv region. We were very afraid for our children's lives and hoped that this horror would stop, that people would stop dying, that the war would end! But the situation around Kyiv was heating up; shells flew into residential buildings. Green corridors did not work, the Russian military did not adhere to the agreement, and shot civilians. Our soldiers protected us around the clock, everyone could hear how the air defense works. Everywhere on the road, volunteers set up food distribution for the population of Kyiv. On the streets, we saw the territorial defense people with machine guns, and we prayed to God for the health of our defenders. On the news, they said not to lift anything from the ground, not to take in your hands: toys, money, or other objects, which was scary, especially for the children.

 

On March 13, we decided to flee from Ukraine on the 18th day of the war. The day before our departure the explosions began to be heard very closely so that the windows were shaking, and the floor was about to give in under our feet. Having collected everything we needed, our friends took us to the station. There is no exact train schedule; we need to look at the scoreboard, our target was Lviv but because of the shelling of the trains by the Russian army, some trains were delayed. We waited for about three hours. During this time, trains and buses with evacuated people from Irpin constantly came in. Volunteers worked quickly, advised them, fed them hot food, provided medical care. Trains from Kharkiv brought many children without parents, the war killed them, and the children were now orphans. When the train to Lviv was announced, everyone ran to it, including us. It took about 11 hours, it was very uncomfortable, but life is more important. On the train, we met other people, and everyone had their own story. When we arrived in Lviv, it was already very late; the youngest fell asleep in my arms from fatigue. There are no words of gratitude for volunteers; they gave us food and quickly found us a place for the night. After spending the night in Lviv, we went by bus to the border; there were many people and children, babies crying in their mothers' arms. Volunteers from Ukraine and Poland, cooked, everything was boiling, kettles were warming up and people were given water and hot food. We were hungry and tired. We crossed the border in a couple of hours. After we were taken to the refugee camp, my 4-year-old daughter was approached by different people offering food and toys. We were asked where we wanted, we did not know, we wanted a peaceful sky overhead. We were assigned to Warsaw. There were many people, many children, some were with dogs. In my eyes, there was fear, fright, and uncertainty. My little daughter was constantly in my arms, even in another country safe, I was afraid to let her go!

Arriving at the station, we wrote to my friend; she lives in Warsaw. She quickly started making phone calls and literally one night later, which we spent outside the city in a warehouse, she advised us to go to the town of Lodz since Warsaw was crowded with Ukrainians. From Warsaw to Lodz, it was the easiest trip in all 4 days. Arriving there, we were met by a beautiful woman; she was smiling and was very friendly. She took everyone to the hotel. We were explained what we would do next, our trip is not yet finished, but life is safe. When I saw where my children would sleep that night, tears of joy flowed from my eyes, although I am not used to expressing my emotions. We were given everything and even more.

My parents stayed in Kyiv. I pray that they remain alive, that there would be a house, that Ukraine would survive! I watch the news every day and worry.
Алена Афонина"