Bringing Relief to Ukrainian Families in Crisis

Due to continued attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure, many communities in southern Ukraine have been facing prolonged blackouts and limited access to heating and water. Thanks to your support, we have raised 8,304 dollars since November, halfway to our goal. These funds allowed us to keep our community center operating during the most difficult periods. We purchased fuel for generators to provide electricity, and we also covered essential supplies so that people could have hot drinks, charge their phones, warm up, and spend time in a safe, heated space when their homes had no power or water.

For Oleksandra Mykolayivna, a regular visitor of our Mykolaiv Community Center, this support became especially important.

“My son's family used to live in Kherson… A missile fell near their house on the Kherson highway. All the windows and frames were blown out. This is when my son told me, ‘Mom, we are leaving. You are coming with us.’”

Her grandson is 12 years old and has already had nine surgeries. In May he will have his tenth. When her family left Kherson they found a temporary shelter near Kyiv for some time. “I know how it feels to be an IDP,” she says. “But there were very good people there. I just thank the people who housed us.”

When she returned to her home in Mykolaiv, the city was experiencing constant shelling and long blackouts. Without stable electricity, heating, or water, daily life became extremely difficult.

“Initially, I came here (IBC’s Community Center) to get bread. My sister lived where there is now a ruin, where the missile hit. I took bread for her and for her grandson.”

Sadly, recently her sister passed away. During the war, Oleksandra buried eight close family members, including her husband. “It was very hard for me,” she says quietly.

At the community center she found not only bread and hot tea, but also understanding and support. 

“Here I communicate with people who really understand me, and I understand them. Nadiya (IBC’s psychologist) is like a sister to me. The whole team is very, very good. I am very grateful.”

During the blackouts, when the generator is running, the center provides light, warmth, tea, and a place where people can sit together and feel less alone.

“I keep saying, ‘Everything will be fine, everything will be fine. May God help us.”

IBC wants to thank every donor who has supported and continues supporting us in bringing relief and warmth to Ukrainians during times of acute crisis.

Stand with Ukraine!