Ukraine Update

Dear Friends, 

We have a beautiful message designed for Giving Tuesday, and I encourage you to read that when it arrives in your email in box on Tuesday.  It includes, what I hope will be an inspirational gift for you. 

Today news from our program director in Dnipro, Ukraine, and our coordinators have prompted me to write now. In contrast to the media, which shares mostly military updates on the war, I want to share the human effects of Russian aggression against Ukraine, how you are making a difference, and what more we need to do. 

There was no heat, electricity, internet, or water for the last three to four days. I was in the middle of our weekly Zoom meeting with Ella Goncharova, Action-PSJ's Ukraine Program Director when her video turned off, and then she disappeared from the meeting. Without warning, everything had been turned off.  I heard nothing from Ella for a few days. This morning we were finally able to communicate for a few hours. The outages continue on, and there is no known end.

In addition to the difficult living conditions, Ella reports the lack of information adds much anxiety and worry. The radio kept going on and off. Information was sporadic As air raids increased and the loud sounds of explosions along with feeling the shaking buildings and grounds, the unknowns of the status of the war became worrisome. Was Ukraine victorious? 

Electric Heaters:
Throughout Ukraine, many cities still depend on the Soviet-era structure of central heat supplied by the municipality. In many areas, the municipalities have yet to turn on the gas. Even when the utilities are on and lights and water are functioning, they have no heat. 

The electric heaters bought with your generous donations arrived just in time. Our elderly are beyond grateful for these. In the pictures (below), their smiles are broad, even while surrounded by blankets and wearing their heavy winter jackets indoors. These will be used in advance of and after the blackouts to warm up their apartments quickly.  . 

Beyond a test of endurance:

Russia is now focusing its aggression against Ukraine on our communities. It is awe-inspiring the resiliency of Ella, our coordinators, and our elderly. Despite these impossible living conditions, they are bunkering down in their apartments. They are holding their ground as a show of support for the success of Ukraine. They are the modern-day resistance movement. 

Your support sustains them. You give light and warmth. 
 We will continuously ask you to support our efforts. With your heartfelt generosity in partnership with our network of foot soldiers in Ukraine, like Ella and Archardy, we can respond quickly to these increasingly dangerous and ever-changing conditions. 

You make this possible. You are providing hope. You are saving lives. 

Please continue to be as generous as you can ​​​​​​​.

We have much more to do!

Debbie Kardon
Executive Director

Your Action Steps:
1. Choose one or more of the lifesaving initiatives below.
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