Helping children find peace and healing in Kharkiv, Ukraine

In Russian-occupied Ukraine, 6-year-old Diana Yurchenko had to hide in the forest from soldiers and falling bombs. At one point, her grandmother had to shield the child from shrapnel with her own body. While most first graders spend their time playing with friends and learning to read, many Ukrainian children have been running for their lives for more than two years. Your Christlike compassion gives children like Diana — whose childhoods have been interrupted by war, disaster or poverty — a chance to be a kid again. Since the Russian war in Ukraine began, Lutheran congregations have reached across the world to help families in Ukraine find refuge and healing. In fact, our humanitarian response in Ukraine is the largest in Lutheran World Relief’s history. With donor support, Lutheran World Relief has provided safe shelter and daily nourishing meals to 1,624 displaced families like Diana’s for more than 12 months across six health centers, known locally as sanatoriums, in Ukraine. Extremely vulnerable families throughout the country have also received folding beds, pillows, heaters, cookstoves, firewood, laundry detergent, toilet paper, toys, hygiene items and Lutheran World Relief Quilts and Kits. But meeting physical needs is only the start. Ukrainian families have endured unimaginable trauma, and they often suffer from anxiety, panic attacks and other signs of distress that completely disrupt their lives. To help foster hope and healing, LWR has provided counseling and psychological care to 9,636 people. This includes the art therapy sessions at the sanatoriums that have helped children like Diana to express their emotions and process trauma. More information about Lutheran World Relief’s response in Ukraine: Video:    • Your faith on the frontlines: Mobile medic...   Video:    • Mending broken hearts in Ukraine with hope...   Video:    • Supporting Ukrainian refugees in their une...   News: https://lwr.org/blog/2024/ukraine-rep... News: https://lwr.org/blog/2023/no-matter-h... News: https://lwr.org/blog/2022/congregatio... Resources for Congregations: https://lwr.org/congregations More information about Lutheran World Relief’s humanitarian response around the world:   Video:    • Quilts and Kits are still bringing hope to...   Video:    • Earthquakes in Nepal: How you’re helping r...   Video:    • Lutheran congregations give earthquake-aff...   News: https://lwr.org/blog/2024/impact-upda... News: https://lwr.org/blog/2024/impact-upda... News: https://lwr.org/blog/2023/crisis-upda... Information about LWR’s Humanitarian work: https://lwr.org/humanitarian-assistance Follow Lutheran World Relief on Facebook:   / luthworldrelief   Follow Lutheran World Relief on Instagram:   / luthworldrelief   Learn more about Lutheran World Relief: https://lwr.org/ Subscribe to the Lutheran World Relief email list: https://lwr.org/subscriptions Give where needed most: https://shorturl.at/hntzE