Ukrainian Refugees and How We Can Help

The people of the Ukraine are never very far from my thoughts, one little family in particular.

When the Ukraine was invaded in February of this year, millions of women, children and elderly were forced to flee for their lives, leaving behind their husbands, partners, brothers, fathers, sons and pets. I could only imagine what this must be like.

Other European countries opened their borders to allow them safe passage with many offering a safe haven. That was nearly six months ago now, and while it was uppermost in the minds of many around the world who were horrified by what they were seeing on TV each night, the war is more of a footnote on the news in Aotearoa New Zealand these days, which is not a surprise, particularly given the cost-of-living and health challenges we’re facing in our own country.

Olena and her two beautiful daughters Yaroslava (10) and Vlada (6) were the first family we connected with and Olena and I message pretty regularly on WhatsApp. At first it was every week, but now not as often, and I must admit I’ve felt some guilt around that.

While I’ve been distracted by our own challenges as a small business trying to survive this shit-storm we’re in right now, I found it quite hard to think of things to say to Olena. I want to help keep the flame of hope burning for her, but anything I typed seemed so pathetic (in my mind) and the fact that she doesn’t speak much English and I have no Ukrainian, made it even more challenging. It’s amazing how we mess with our own heads, downplaying what we’re offering, which is basically LOVE and COMPASSION two of the most powerful things we can give.

I worried that I was making life even more difficult for Olena by contacting her, and perhaps creating a feeling of obligation on her part to reply to me, when she already has so much to deal with. And so, after a few weeks of not messaging, I made contact on Sunday night.

I decided to take a practical approach, and asked how they were doing, and whether we could send a little more money to help with their living costs. I’m so aware that the countries who’ve taken these refugees in, are bearing the cost of that, in particular the people themselves, and this is a practical thing I felt we could do to help.

I had asked Olena if she needed some more money a few months ago, and her reply was that there were many others out there who also need help. A testament to the caring, courageous woman she is, and so our next donation at that time went to an elderly couple.

We sent a beautiful care package a while ago, full of things my awesome team of Earth Angels had either created or bought for Olena, her children, and now her Mother Katya, who had been able to join them in Turkey.

I had a ‘sense’ that this time, if I offered, there might be something important that money could help with, and I was right. Vlada, Olena’s youngest has not been able to attend school because they don’t have the funds for the fees. Being able to go to school is so important, not just from the educational point of view, but most importantly for the opportunity to socialise and make friends.

So today Peter and I made a direct payment to Olena via Western Union, that will enable Vlada to go to school and make new friends, which I hope will be a welcome distraction from the worry of what’s happening at home.

If you’re in a position to, and would like to help Ukrainian refugees and those left behind, including pets, here are a few options…

• Follow this link to Sid Carters Charity, as they are doing an AWESOME job…

https://www.facebook.com/Help-Ukrainian-Refugee-Families-Flee-104781935490895

Here are their bank account details and other information as well, so you don’t have to go hunting for them…

S R Carter 12-3118-0447645-00

Use your surname and phone number as a reference.

To help them set up communication between you and your sponsored family they ask that after making payment you email them with your surname in the subject line.

Their email is  teamukrainerff@gmail.com

Absolutely ANY gift of money is appreciated as they can combine smaller payments and lump them together to help a family in need.

• Alternatively, you can contact me via this email michelle@inspiremeonline.co.nz to set up an online payment that we’ll pass on to Sid’s organisation or that we’ll pay to an animal charity over there, if that’s something you’d like to contribute to.
• We also have a Donation Box in-store that our customers are contributing to.
• You may like to add a donation to your online purchases, and here’s a link to that on our website… https://inspiremeonline.co.nz/products/donation-to-ukrainian-humanitarian-fund?_pos=1&_sid=e6be0883f&_ss=r
• And here’s a link to an organisation that we’re making a donation to today, in case you’d like to donate directly to them. It’s the UKRAINIAN WAR ANIMAL’S RELIEF FUND.... https://gofund.me/8c9743f9
• And let’s not forget the power of PRAYER. If you’re not able to help financially, please pray for all affected or involved in this war, the refugees, the pets, the defenders, the invaders. Pray for PEACE…

If you’ve made it to the end of this very long post, thanks for taking the time.

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