Practical help that makes a difference

As well as gathering communities together for fellowship to support good mental health, our Full Table fund also exists to provide practical help for Ukrainians to tackle the challenges winter brings.

“Ukraine is currently going through difficult times, both in terms of jobs and opportunities, as everything has become more expensive,” explains Oleg Panasenko, pastor of Rizdvo Church in Cherkasy. He has observed that economic pressures have made it harder for people to prepare and to have what they need to deal with the cold weather, so in response, the team at Rizdvo have focussed on meeting physical needs in their congregation.

One very simple but effective action has been to assist in the purchase of jumpers, coats and boots. “The people who received funds to buy warm clothes for themselves and their children were very grateful. This was a great blessing as most cannot buy good quality clothes and usually go to second-hand stores.”

Oleg and the Rizdvo leadership team also wanted to find ways to help people cope with power cuts, which are frequent and prolonged as a result of Russians attacks targeting the national electricity infrastructure. They came up with the idea of giving out portable power banks, which can be charged up when the electricity is on, and can then keep phones and other small devices functioning during outages. Oleg describes these as “very necessary and a real help” and says that they have been greatly appreciated.

Across all of our partner churches, basic food supplies were identified as the most significant need by the pastors. At Rizdvo packages of essentials are regularly handed out, and that provision is especially important during this season of the year. “People were very grateful and happy to receive such support, as food prices have risen sharply,” Oleg says. “We distribute food kits once a month and I see that people are so grateful that there are those who care about them, about what they and their children will eat.”

As we know from daily news reports, the bombardments do not let up and it is hard to imagine the concept of peace in Ukraine any time soon. However we do find hope in the news we get like this from our pastors and partners, that these small acts of support and care do go some way to making life a bit more bearable for their communities.