Ukrainian refugees travel from Lviv and cross the Poland border at Medyka and arrive at a crisis center in Przemysl. They stay for a day and move west to Krakow to find a new life.
As this tragic war continued unabated, we have asked ourselves over and over “how can we help”? This week Dana and I accepted an invitation to go to Poland with an open heart and helpful hands to join the “Ukraine Relief Initiative” team that has partnered with “Kraków Debniki for Ukraine (KDU)”.
Our friend and colleague Matt McKissock reached out from Poland this past week where he spent several weeks working alongside the on-the-ground group – Krakow Debniki for Ukraine (KDU) team in the Debniki district of Krakow. KDU is a core team of eight main volunteers who have stepped into the breach to organize, coordinate and lead every single aspect of the refugee crises within their district. Their work includes finding housing, food, resettlement with host families, and other critical support services for Ukrainian citizens fleeing their homes. The US/UK team “Ukraine Relief Initiative” is partnering with the Polish KDU team to provide much-needed resources.
The Mission Statement spoke to us-
“Relieve the crisis. Thoughtfully. With Discipline and heart. Now.”
We will depart for Kraków, Poland on Wednesday, 4/20, and return on 5/8. We are paying for all of our expenses (flights, hotels, and food), as are all the volunteers. If this mission speaks to you, please join this humanitarian journey with us by directly funding the purchase of food, clothing, and supplies urgently needed by families (mostly women, children, and the elderly). Financial support is critical to assisting the generosity of the Polish people that have opened their hearts and their homes to their Ukrainian neighbors. Methods to contribute are listed below. We will provide regular updates on the work being accomplished at the end of each day via posts on Facebook (yes, we rejoined…for this important purpose) and via emails.
How can you help?
1) Donate funds, immediately…please see below.
2) Amplify this story with your own voice into your network of amazing human beings with hearts as large as yours.
3) Follow us on Facebook; Join the FB Group “Ukraine Relief Initiative”
4) Ask to be added to our email distribution list for regular updates.
5) Hold the intention (and pray, if you are so inclined) for Peace on Earth.
Thank you for being the people we want to travel with through life. We appreciate your friendship, love, and support on this journey.
With Much Love,
Cindy and Dana
HOW TO MAKE FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE UKRAINIAN RELIEF INITIATIVE
All contributions are fully tax-deductible through HCC, our registered 501(c)(3) passthrough charity.
TO CONTRIBUTE BY CHECK:
Make your check payable to **Hispanic Community Council** – (VERY IMPORTANT: not to Ukraine Relief Initiative) and send it to the following address:
HCC – URI
c/o John Kersey
208 Liberty Street
Warren, PA 16365
Please indicate “Ukrainian Relief Initiative” in the check memo and include a note with your contact info (address, phone, email).
TO CONTRIBUTE ELECTRONICALLY BY PAYPAL:
Use this link: https://www.paypal.com/
In the memo, please include your name, address, phone #, and email so we can process your tax receipt.