Ukraine Refugee Apartment Building Remodel

THE STORY

In 2022, Vadym & Olenka Havca and their 2 young children escaped the war in Ukraine and came to live in Holmes County, OH. Since then, Vadym’s church in Chernivtsi Ukraine has become a refuge for families whose homes have been destroyed in the war by providing housing in an apartment building owned by the church.

THE NEED

This apartment building which is housing several families is badly in need of renovation. All the rooms need remodeling, the stairways rebuilt, and a kitchen added. The building is attached to the church building and the work will be done by the members of the Bethany congregation. The expected cost for this is around $40,000. There is also ongoing costs to provide groceries and living expenses for these families living in the building and elsewhere in the city.

THE GOAL

Vadym & Olenka had the idea to serve a Ukranian meal to a few hundred people to raise money for this need. A team of family and friends got together and the vision quickly became much more ambitious. Our goal is to serve 1,500 people and to raise $50,000 online and at the fundraiser. The event will include an authentic Ukrainian meal, a presentation of the work in Ukraine by Vadym, and a cake auction on July 28th at Gospel Haven Mennonite Church in Benton, OH from 4-7PM.