Europe
An update on supporting Ukrainians
“You’re braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.”
~ Christopher Robin to Winnie the Pooh
Thank you for your generous support of the work we are doing to support refugees in and displaced people in Poland, Romania and Ukraine. You can help us continue to provide direct support to Ukrainian refugees by donating here.
Dear friend,
The quote above reminds me of the refugees who have lost so much and had to flee their homeland. I’m sure when they left, they were terrified, but over the past few months have been very brave, putting on happy faces for their children and elderly parents. Determined to make new lives, many of them have learned new languages, and begun new jobs. Your donations have allowed us to provide many people with safe places to live that offer dignity – private rooms for their families, not cots on a gymnasium floor.
Kadir’s update about the government support in Poland changing doesn’t surprise me, but it saddens me. Grand Circle Foundation believes these people have suffered enough and should not have to move again to a refugee camp – no matter how nice the camp might be. We are committed to long term support to give these women time to figure out next steps and continue to make a better life for their families.
I hope you will please consider making an additional donation. Every donation, no matter the amount will help, and you can be assured that 100% of every dollar will be used to support our partners in Poland, Romania and Ukraine. Stefan and Kadir are working diligently to ensure that every dollar donated is used wisely and has the greatest impact.
I will continue to share weekly updates on the communities, organizations and people Grand Circle Foundation is supporting, and the impact of your donations. Previous updates can be found here.
Thank you again for your continued support and trust.
Peace and love,
Harriet R. Lewis
Vice Chairman
Poland: Lena Gorochowska Foundation, Ozarow. Housing for 160 refugees
At Ozarow, we funded $100,000 for renovations, and have supplied language lessons which has helped many of the women find jobs. To start the summer, volunteers assembled playground materials and created an outdoor space for the children to play. The day ended with a barbeque for residents and volunteers, hopefully providing a little bit of “normalcy” for the families.
Poland. Lena Grochowska Foundation, Konstancin. Housing for 250 people
At Konstancin, language lessons continue, and the women prepare food to sell at farmer’s markets. The proceeds from the sales are sent back to Ukraine to support family members who stayed in Ukraine.
Poland. Lena Grochowska Foundation, Seidlica. Housing for 450, including those with physical limitations
Pictured above are Oksana and Valerij, who live in Siedlica, where we funded $100,000 to create a safe place for refugees. They are a married couple, both in wheelchairs, who lived in a village near Chernihiv, Ukraine. When the war broke out, they were not able to go to any shelter in wheelchairs, and came to Poland by train.
Upon arrival, they went to the village of Studzianek, where Oksana’s sister worked once. They lived there in poor conditions, in the garage without a bathroom or access to the kitchen. There was no shop in the village, and it was very difficult for them to manage. After living there for 2 months, they were asked to leave the place, and volunteers Krzysztof and Grzegorz helped them find a room in Siedlica. Oksana and Valerij say that they are doing very well with us.
Oksana and Valerij are hard working people. Whenever there is a need, they are always ready to help. In the photo above, they are assembling chairs.
Oksana asked Kadir to write that they are grateful to everyone, that we have welcomed them, and to all the volunteers for the enormous help they have received since they have crossed the border. So, on behalf of Oksana and Valerij, “thank you” – none of this would be possible without your continued support.
Kadir, pictured above helping with a food delivery, oversees all purchases and submits all invoices paid and how funds are used each week. 100% of all donations go directly to support the refugees. You can help us continue to provide support by donating here.
Thank you for your generous support of Grand Circle Foundation, and the trust you place in our team to ensure your donation is used as intended.
Because all administration costs are funded by the Alnoba Lewis Family Foundation, 100% of all donations are tax deductible and returned to our partner sites.
If you made a donation to support a specific project and would like an update on how the funds were used, please feel free to contact us at: [email protected], or call 1‑800‑859‑0852.