Helping Ukraine 🇺🇦

 
 
 

Dear friends,

The situation in Ukraine and Eastern Europe is heartbreaking. The stories my family in Poland are sharing about the refugees and the families they left behind are horrific and have gripped my soul. Over 2 million refugees have come into Poland. Our family & friends have personally taken in several families, are supporting clothing & food drives, helping with blood drives, and anything else they can do to help.

I have decided (with my family and network) to take donations directly to ensure 100% of the donations go to those housing and supporting these incredible families during this drastic time. Many of us worry about giving to charities because we're unsure of where the money is going — even with large charities. We hope direct payments to those helping on the ground help alleviate that.

How to donate

If you’re interested in joining our mission, you can send funds directly through:

  • Venmo (@Adrian1 or link below)

  • Zelle (adriantrzaskus@gmail.com)

Please note, we are not a non-profit so there are no tax benefits, only benefits to our souls, and 100% of the funds are going directly to families in Poland.

If you make a donation please note “Ukraine 🇺🇦” in the message

Tracking donations

You can track all of the money coming in/out in the link below. We created this to create additional transparency in this process.

Families we are supporting

A mom and her two daughters. A note from the family who took them in (my aunt, my dad’s sister).

“Standing in love with Ukraine 🇺🇦. From Monday we will have Julia with her two daughters - Ana and Sofia stay with us from the Ukrainian city of Czerkasy. They escaped the war. They came with only one small suitcase. They are a lovely family, scared, full of fear and uncertainty. Our friends supplied the girls some clothes and shoes they needed. Difficult times ahead of them, but we give them what we give to our grandchildren - love and kindness. Today 5 year old Sofia said "ya tebe lyublyu" (I love you) and it's worth living for such moments ♥️”

Update: “The kids are going to school, they even have a Ukrainian class. Younger children attend a Polish kindergarten. They have all learned the language very quickly. The moms also attend Polish lessons and try to live a normal life, but still, the situation is so hard on them. Our granddaughters got to spend some time with them, and it was amazing”

The young man in the middle was able to escape Ukraine with his elderly mom and dad. As a note for our animal lovers: this Polish family was incredible enough to accept their pets as well. We are helping the family that took them in.

 
 

This home has been rented out and paid for and is currently being used for Ukrainian refugees making their way through Poland. Thirty beds have been put in, and, as Ukrainian families come by who have been traveling for days/weeks, this is a place they can stay for 3-4 days, shower, wash/dry their clothes, and have people cook for them before they continue their journey. This home has been a safe place for women and children. We are supporting the rent, fees, and upkeep of this home.

Two separate families staying in one room. This amazing family took in a mom and her young daughter, and another mom and her young son. Both kids are looking to join the local schools as soon as possible. We are helping the family that took them in.

 
 

A family took in a mother and her son, and their disabled grandmother coming from Czerwonogród Ukraine. We are supporting several expenses with the donations.

An 81-year-old family friend took in a family of 3, a mom, and her two children. Another incredible story of allowing them to bring their dog. The husband/father of the family is a doctor who stayed behind in Ukraine to support the war effort. The family had to move through Moldova, then Romania to escape into Poland. The family that took them in was struggling with the new expenses (food, utilities, etc.), we are supporting them with the donations.

 
 

There are many kids and young teens who are escaping Ukraine with nothing or as little as a backpack. We’re supporting a local school to donate clothes to Ukrainian families. We have some great local support to ensure we get the right shoe measurements. Everyone was so excited and thankful for these incredible gifts.

 
 

Purchased some food/goods for the 2023 winter season for several families

Have any questions or want to connect?

If you have any questions, recommendations, or would like to connect, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Special shoutout ♥️

Thank you to the Neff Family (Derek and Chanel) who have donated over $2300 from their family & their amazing community.

Other Donation options

If you’re looking for other options we found two great charities:

Thank you, everyone, for your love & support 🙏🏼

Adrian Trzaskus, Wioletta Hemsey & friends