Giving Tuesday: Feeding Blessed Families in Ukraine
Photo courtesy of UPF Ukraine
This Giving Tuesday, November 29, you can celebrate the holiday season with the gift of giving. While there are numerous ways to spread blessings and cheer this season, it’s especially meaningful to help those in need. You can support the latest campaign to help feed blessed families in Ukraine this winter.
Maria Makarova, a Ukrainian Unificationist and member of the Manhattan Family Church, recently launched a fundraiser on behalf of UPF Ukraine for families in her war-torn homeland. With support from Rev. Miilhan Stephens, Manhattan Family Church pastor, the GoFundMe page has raised more than $7,000 of its $43,500 goal in just a few weeks. Makarova notes with winter weather now here, those affected by the ongoing war will need to stock up on food and water to provide for their families.
“The war in Ukraine rages on and families are suffering the most,” she notes on the fundraiser page. “It's not much, but we want to at least make sure our blessed families can make it through the winter. All of them had to flee their homes and abandon their livelihoods. Despite these hardships, they continue to fundraise, witness, and run workshops to keep their spirits up.”
Anna Kalmatskaya, national leader of Ukraine, further detailed the situation of Unificationists in the community in a recent report. She said some members were sent to the western part of the country in advance of the war, while others, mainly women and children, were evacuated to the west of Ukraine and abroad. With some 203 members departing the country as refugees, Kalmatskaya said another 109 people remained, 81 of which were displaced from their homes. “Nine brothers went to war, [and] one of them is wounded,” she reported. “Eight brothers are still on the front line.”
Despite such trials, members have persevered and banded together through volunteering, helping Ukraine’s army, and preparing supplies such as firewood and fuel for the community. Kalmatskaya reported two families are staying together in the city of Vinnitsa, 22 members are in Lviv, and 43 people — 27 adults and 16 children — have come together in a small village outside of Lviv. “[They are] staying as one community,” she reported. “Living, working, cooking, eating together, farming, [and] practicing community life.”
Families have even initiated fundraisers with homemade donuts, giving 20 percent of the proceeds to support Ukraine’s army. Witnessing activities have also resumed, including online lectures, an actionizing program, 7-day Divine Principle workshops, and hiking excursions with guests. Although daily life for some has changed dramatically with rural living, Kalmatskaya reported that members have become more united as they connect with their new community through volunteering at a goat farm, helping neighbors with haymaking, and weaving nets for the army.
Still, the war in Ukraine has caused a huge problem of crop failure, which brings the threat of famine and a potential humanitarian crisis. “Ukraine is already facing severe shortages of staples and skyrocketing prices,” reported Kalmatskaya. “Presumably, the situation will worsen much in winter. To prepare for this, we need to stock up on basic products for our community that stays in Ukraine.”
Fundraiser organizers said basic products — including salt, sugar, rice, buckwheat, pasta, oatmeal, flour, sunflower oil, canned meat, and fish — will cost approximately $43,500 for 100 people over the next three months of winter. “Any amount that is given is greatly appreciated,” noted Makarova, who also encouraged support through prayers.
You can donate to feed blessed families in Ukraine here. Donations collected through a similar campaign organized by the DMV (DC-Maryland-Virginia) community also benefit Unificationists in Ukraine.