Don't wait this Advent
Maria is a mother of four from Ukraine. Due to the violence of Russia’s invasion, her family was forced to flee from Berdyansk Raion in the south-east of Ukraine to the other side of the country.
This Advent, you can help mums like Maria keep their family safe and warm.
Donate to CAFOD's Advent Appeal
Left to right: Andrii, Stephan (dad), Yuliia, Maria (mum), Varvara, Oleh
A lifeline for the winter
When they managed to find a new place to live, Maria had to rebuild it with her husband Stephan because it was in such poor condition. Despite working so hard to make their home habitable, Maria knew her family was in serious trouble when freezing winter winds began to howl and they couldn't afford firewood.
Imagine holding your four beautiful children, desperately wondering how to keep them warm in temperatures as low as -20°C.
The situation looked bleak. “We realised we wouldn’t be able to afford firewood,” said Maria, “it’s too expensive.” But Maria was determined to keep her family warm.
Thankfully, our local partner was able to help.
“When the firewood arrived, it was like a playground for the little ones. Our emotions were off the scale because we knew it was our lifeline in winter.”
Together, we can support families with the practical help they need
It's not just families in Ukraine that face uncertain futures. Around the world, long-lasting emergencies are making it harder for families to survive.
A gift from you today will make such a big difference.