As Catholics, Advent is a time of reflection and active waiting for the joyful celebration of Christmas. But for some families their urgent circumstances mean we cannot wait.
Maria is a mother of four, and due to the violence of Russia’s invasion, her family were forced to flee from Berdyansk Raion in the south-east of Ukraine to the other side of the country.
Help mums like Maria to keep their family warm and safe
What does CAFOD do?
CAFOD is an international development charity reaching out to people facing poverty and hardship worldwide, regardless of religion or culture.
As the official aid agency of the Catholic Church in England and Wales, we are part of Caritas International’s global network, one of the largest in the world.
This Advent, we invite you to join our appeal of global justice by supporting families like Maria’s, who fled conflict in Ukraine. Your gift can provide firewood, essential supplies, and more to those facing harsh winter conditions and ongoing challenges.
Together, we can bring warmth, stability, and hope to families in Ukraine and beyond, helping them live full and dignified lives.
“Our emotions were off the scale because we knew it was our lifeline in winter. When there’s firewood you know you can cook a meal and keep warm without problems.”
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.
Don't wait to help this Advent
There are many families in need of support this Advent – please don’t wait to help them. Valentyn Bebik, director of the humanitarian department, explains how they prioritise people according to their circumstances:
"Caritas selects people to take part in its programmes based on a family’s level of vulnerability. The kind of families that would take part are those that lost a breadwinner, families with many children [like Maria’s], older people, people with disabilities, and single parents.”
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 will make such a big difference.