As the world focuses on sportsmanship, medal counts, and colorful programs during the Olympics, humanity gets distracted and the horrors occurring in the world are easily forgotten… unless you are the ones trying to live through that horror.

In Ukraine the war continues, the bombings continue, civilians continue to die, children scream for their parents, parents weep because they have no food to give to their children, the elderly silently sob because they have sadly lived through this before, and they know what a difficult and arduous journey lies ahead not only for themselves, but, for their children, grandchildren, and the nation they call home.

As Russia continues it’s horrific and unprovoked attack on Ukraine, more and more people are struggling to merely survive.  It is easy to click on a “sad” emoji when an image of a desperate refugee pops up on a social media feed, but these people are more than just images on a screen. 

As the attacks escalate in the Donbas region, increasingly more people are displaced from their loved ones, their homes, their lives.   Imagine that yesterday you came home from work to find your family laughing around the dinner table, the kids begging to go outside and play ball, falling asleep in a soft and comfy bed; and the very next instant you have no place to lay your head.  Your home has been bombed and destroyed.  You have nothing left to pack as you run for your life.  You grab your children, carrying the one that is bleeding, kiss your elderly grandmother goodbye knowing that she will not be able to make the journey and must be left behind, and set out with God as your only hope in a world that seems to have gone mad.

More and more of these families arrive daily at refugee centers looking for assistance.  It is difficult for them.  Not only do they mourn their dead, worry over the family and loved ones left behind, they cannot come to grips that they are helpless and need to ask for assistance.  Suddenly they find that they are dependent on the charity of others for their very survival. 

Timidly mothers arrive asking for baby-formula, diapers, and food for their squirming infants.  The elderly appear and simply ask for bread and water.  Entire families show up and gratefully accept bags filled with food, hygiene items, medicines, and clean water.  Day after day after day people come.  But who supplies these much-needed items?  You do.

With the prayers and blessing of Metropolitan Antony of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA and Diaspora, Archbishop Daniel, Ruling Hierarch of the Western Eparchy of the UOC of the USA and Consistory President, provided resources collected by the Church to aid Ukrainians in their hour of need.  Funds are distributed in the Donetsk and Mariupol Eparchy (under the leadership of Metropolitan Serhiy), through the service of Rev. Fr. Kostyantyn Kuznetsov, who along with his wife Natalia, and team of volunteers, oversees the delivery of the donated food, clothing, medicines, hygiene products, and educational toys and candies for the children.

Without your help these terrified and traumatized people would have nowhere to go.  When they arrive tired, scared and hungry, they are met with love, compassion and generosity.  By providing them with the basics of life, we can bolster their spirits and strengthen their resolve to continue fighting and enduring the tragedies of war.  We unite with these people through prayer, through our selfless donations, through our love for them, and in this unity, they find solace, renewed hope, and a continued will to live. 

YOU can put a bandage on a bleeding wound.  YOU can provide milk to a starving newborn.  YOU can hand a slice of bread to a trembling and wrinkled hand.  YOU can provide a bar of soap to wash off the grime of the long journey.  YOU can give hope.  YOU can give solace.  YOU can save a life.

In these difficult times, consider responding to the hand that is reaching out to you for help, consider donating to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA Ukrainian Relief Fund.  YOU can make a difference!