Urgent Appeal for Ukrainian Refugees in Poland
More than four years have passed since the outbreak of the devastating war in Ukraine. Although the world's attention has increasingly turned elsewhere, the suffering of countless families has not ended. More than one million Ukrainian refugees remain in Poland, many of them women, children, and the elderly.
From the very beginning of this tragedy, the Orthodox Church in America has sought to respond with Christian compassion. In the first weeks of the war, the generosity of our faithful made possible a large charitable collection, raising more than $720,000 for ELEOS, the humanitarian agency of the Polish Orthodox Church. Those funds provided immediate and tangible assistance to refugees seeking safety and shelter.
As this terrible war continues, so too does our responsibility to stand with our suffering brothers and sisters. For this reason, I am grateful that the Orthodox Church in America is able once again to support this sacred work through our partnership with International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC). Working together with ELEOS, IOCC has provided compassionate and practical assistance to thousands of Ukrainian refugees in Poland. Through this partnership, vulnerable families have received:
● Emergency financial assistance
● Safe shelter
● Legal guidance, housing assistance, and employment counseling
● Polish language classes
● Daycare services
● Vocational training with small business grants
Together with IOCC, we hope to raise $50,000 to continue providing the resources and opportunities that help more Ukrainian refugees move from uncertainty toward stability and hope. I therefore encourage all who are able to prayerfully consider making a generous contribution to IOCC's ongoing ministry to Ukrainian refugees in Poland.
With paternal love in Christ,
+TIKHON
Archbishop of Washington
Metropolitan of All America and Canada
Your Support Is Changing Lives
Behind every statistic is a family working to rebuild after losing almost everything. Through your generous support, Ukrainian refugees in Poland are finding safety, stability, and hope for the future.
Your gift to IOCC’s Poland Area of Greatest Need Fund supports Ukrainian refugees as they rebuild their lives and helps IOCC respond to evolving needs in Poland.
Ruzanna, mother of three from Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine
“Everything was new: the country, the language, the people. I was scared. I didn’t speak Polish and didn’t know where to start. I found a job in a fish factory, but it was very hard and cold, and I kept getting sick. I had to quit.
I learned about the program from Father Marcin Gościk, whom I met at church. He encouraged me to join a Polish language course. I was afraid at first, but I tried. I finished the course with a national B1 certificate! It was such a big achievement for me. Later, I also completed a computer course and now I feel that I can do much more.
Thanks to this support, I started believing in myself again. Today I’m not afraid to speak Polish, I have friends, my children go to school, and I’m learning to live again….Because of you, I didn’t just receive help, I found hope again.”