WILL YOU JOIN WITH US TO HELP A UKRAINIAN FAMILY?

On the picture: Irina, 55 years (grandmother); Julia, 32 years (mother); Yana, 13 years; Kamila, 5 years

MAKING THIS PERSONAL: WILL YOU JOIN WITH US TO HELP A UKRAINIAN REFUGEE FAMILY?

Irina, Julia, Yana, and Kamila fled from Kryvvj Rih in Southeast Ukraine approximately one month ago. Leaving Julia’s husband behind to defend all that they had, they traveled more than 20 hours in a train with “blinded windows so the enemies would not shoot the people inside.” After crossing into Poland, they became four of over 2.7 million Ukrainian refugees arriving in a strange country not knowing where they would sleep, how they would eat, or how they would start over. The sheer numbers are overwhelming.

In order to accommodate the influx, the Polish government has set up a registry where refugees who arrive without friends, relatives, or other contacts may sign in and be assigned to dormitories and shelters. This same registry allows Polish citizens to volunteer as hosts, and that is how this family became personal for me. My sister, Marta, now living on the outskirts of Warsaw, was matched with Irina, Julia, Yana and Kamila. Marta’s family of five swelled to nine.

Taking in Ukrainian refugees is a huge commitment of the heart, because the Polish government is able to provide only 8 euros/day/refugee to the hosting families, and the stipend does not arrive in a timely fashion. Delays in government funding are common for hosting families in suburbs or more rural areas . The family arrived with one plastic bag of clothing between them, no school supplies or toys, no food, and without any knowledge of Polish. In the last month, with Luca’s and my help, Marta, and Marta’s husband have housed, fed and clothed them; enrolled both children in school; provided all necessary school supplies; and enrolled all but Kamila in a Polish language course. Although Irina was a factory worker and Julia was a clerical worker in the Ukraine, neither of them is able to do anything more than temporary house cleaning in Poland without some mastery of the language.

With half the infrastructure of the Ukraine already destroyed, the family has made the decision to permanently remain in Poland. Their prayer is that Julia’s husband will survive the war and join them in their new country. To help them, our goal is to raise approximately $6000 U.S., which will support the family for their first year. This sum will buy:

• A house or living space of their own for a year

• A bicycle so that Julia can ride to work

• A driving course for Julia, as the area where they are living now on the outskirts of Warsaw requires it

The decision has been made to fund some basic healthcare for the family if extra money is raised.

Will you join Luca and me in making a small dent in this overwhelming human tragedy?

Thank you, Dziękuję, Grazie Mille,

Magdalena