Now even such basic things as affordable groceries in the store, or the opportunity to buy good clothes or new sheets and blankets have become simply unaffordable for many.
In December’s issue of Inside Story, we reported that bedding sets including blankets, sheets and pillows were being provided. As a result such simple and practical aid not only helps people cope with the winter more easily and improve the feeling of warmth and comfort at home, but gives hope for possible improvements in the future.
The best part is that this hope comes through the church, through people who know the love of Jesus Christ and are ready to share with those in need. For the 2,090 beneficiaries of this project, we can share a couple of testimonies from extremely grateful people who feel blessed and are thankful to all who provided so that they could have warm bedding during the winter.
The team which distributed the aid sent the following reports:
‘There was a tragedy at Yulia Gaidar’s family during the month of December. Her three-year-old son died in a fire. A young woman lost her child and a roof over her head within a single night. Neighbours and acquaintances were assisting the victims of the fire and when Vladimir Ivanitsky’s team learned about this grief, warm blankets, pillows, bed linen from the Slavic Gospel Association of United Kingdom were donated to her as part of the project. The support for this family has not ended yet: we plan to provide the Gaidar family with a ceramic heater and thermal underwear in the next project.’
‘Tatyana Smolyar left Sloviansk in 2014 with two young daughters because their village was subjected to heavy shelling. The family moved to a small village near Odessa, where Tanya was working in the vineyards. But the circumstances were becoming harder with each year, and there was less and less work available. So in October 2021, she returned home with two children. But… the house was practically gone, only walls remained after seven years.
The family stayed literally on the street and the children were starving for several days until they were sheltered by believers, who were trying to provide them with essentials. Slavic Gospel Association of United Kingdom also offered help. “It’s so amazing! We got exactly what we needed. We were missing a blanket, and a pillow!” – says Tatiana – “Thank you very much for this gift of warmth’.
