This isn’t the first time Olga and her son fled from conflict.
They used to live in a small Ukrainian town bordering Russia. And in 2014, they moved to Mariupol because of the fighting.
When Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Olga thought that it would be nothing more than a border skirmish … she thought that she and her son would be safe in Mariupol.
But she was wrong.
Watch this short video to learn about Olga’s life as a displaced Ukrainian:
Mariupol quickly became a warzone with some of the most horrific fighting — and the most civilian casualties.
When Russian forces attacked, Olga and her son gathered with over 100 people in a basement. They had no cell service, running water, or heat. For a month, Olga forbade her son from leaving because she knew dead bodies littered the streets above.
“So many hurt and injured. It’s very hard to see people kill each other. Many families are divided, children taken to Russia,” Olga said.
The group of them waited, hoping the fighting would pass. Adults only went out when getting more food or water was vital. Eventually, Ukrainian soldiers discovered the makeshift bunker and told everyone to leave as soon as possible.
The very next day, Olga and her son left the basement. They crossed through the military roadblocks and went to a train station. From there, they took a train to Lviv — where Olga thought she would be all alone caring for her son.
Give your best gift today to be the hands and feet of Jesus in Ukraine
Thankfully, she was connected to one of our partner’s WeCare Centers serving displaced Ukrainians, which is supported in part by World Help donors! She received emergency supplies like food, water, and medicine. She even received help finding temporary lodging.
But that was two years ago.
And today, Olga and many other displaced Ukrainians rely on the center just as much now as she did then.
She still hasn’t been able to find a job in Lviv to support herself or her son. Without help from people like you, Olga knows she wouldn’t have survived this long.
“The center helps us with clothes and food for the family,” Olga said. “It’s very important.”
Yet, as time passes, it’s becoming harder and harder for our partner on the ground to stock their warehouse. The cost of basic goods like food, medicine, and bottled water continues to rise … and people around the world are giving less and less.
Displaced Ukrainians like Olga are desperately waiting for YOU to step in to provide them with physical and spiritual aid. The need for supplies like food and warm clothing is urgent, but you can still make sure Ukrainians like Olga receive the help and hope they need in time.
For just $35, you can provide a week’s worth of essentials like food, clothing, shelter, and other emergency supplies to one refugee or displaced person from Ukraine.
To people like Olga, it feels like the rest of the world has forgotten about them. Will you demonstrate the love of Christ to them today?
Give your best gift now to help transform a life.