Sharing Hope with a Struggling Nation

On the morning of February 24, 2022, missiles and airstrikes damaged cities and crippled infrastructure across the country of Ukraine. Minutes later, Russian tanks and soldiers crossed the border in an attempt to seize eastern regions of the country and even Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital. The news spread around the globe like wildfire.

What the world thought would be an occupation of a few regions of Ukraine has exploded into a full-scale war throughout the entire country. A war that continues even today. This conflict has created a humanitarian crisis for every citizen of Ukraine. Women and children flee for refuge in neighboring countries such as Romania, Poland, and Moldova, while all Ukrainian males age 18–60 are conscripted into the military to defend against the incursion. Some estimate upwards of five million citizens have become refugees in foreign countries with little to no financial or community support.

In Romania, Children Hunger Fund’s (CHF) partner, Mercy Network, responded to this crisis by supporting a local association serving refugees at the Romania-Ukraine border and supplying resources into Ukraine itself. Community leaders are crossing the border to bring vanloads of food and medical supplies to churches and individuals in war-torn regions. With a grant of $50,000 and the help of our amazing partners at CHF, the USANA Foundation was able to deploy over 315,000 meals to Ukrainian children and families suffering in refugee camps.

Helping Those Who Have Come So Far

The Evanko family is one of many families who recently arrived in the city of Khmelnik, where CHF’s Mercy Network serves the people of their community. They fled from their homes in Kramotorsk, a city in the partially captured and occupied region in Eastern Ukraine.

For months, it was nearly impossible to evacuate the city, but they believe God finally granted them a safe escape. Along the way they found a house in a mostly evacuated village for shelter before they moved on. The family traveled over 560 miles (904 km) to find a place of safety, and they were relieved to receive food and supplies after such an arduous evacuation.

Finding Light in Dark Places

Like the Evanko family, Galyna’s family traveled a long distance to reach safety. Before the war, she lived with her husband, their two children, and her father in Kalanchak, a small town located near the isthmus of Crimea. Their town was among the first to be attacked and captured when Russian forces invaded.

They lived in their home for about three months while Russian forces occupied their town. However, it eventually became necessary to retreat to their basement. Tragically, Galyna’s husband died during this time, though she has been unable to share the details. Galyna was also pregnant before the war started—and she gave birth to her third child while living in her basement.

Miraculously, after months of hiding, Galyna and her family finally escaped their basement and the captured town. They traveled 434 miles (700 km) to Khemlnik and received help and support from CHF.