When the windows on the 11th floor of Olena and her daughter Maria’s home shook from the blast, the women felt history repeating itself. It has been eight years since the family fled from war-torn Donetsk to the Kiev region, where they were always to feel safe.
They did not want to flee, but the prospect of dying under the rubble with her daughter was more frightening for Olena than running away into the unknown. The Ukrainian woman packed her and her daughter’s things so quickly that she forgot to take any clothes or underwear. As they were closing their one and only suitcase, they heard rockets flying over their heads.
They decided to run away to Kiev and from there to Lutsk. They were most afraid of being fired upon while standing on the packed platform. When the evacuation train arrived, it was overcrowded. Olena was extremely lucky that she and her daughter managed to fit into a compartment; even though it was bursting at the seams – instead of 4 people, there were 12!
In Lutsk they found shelter in a hostel that provided places for people in need.
The volunteers at the hostel immediately noticed that the women had not taken any clothes with them, so they asked us for help. We immediately sent them parcels donated by you and by the wonderful companies that had offered us their clothing. Olena and Maria were moved to tears. They want to thank you very much!
If you want to help us send out more parcels full of GOOD, be sure to check out our charity shop where you can donate food or hygiene products!