Caring for
ORPHANS
Our work is focused on showing the love of Jesus to orphans in Ukraine. We work with orphanages to meet children's basic needs while building loving relationships with them.
Renewing
FAMILIES
Most Ukrainian orphans we meet are connected to relatives who often live in challenging circumstances. We try to engage with them to renew their faith, by providing practical and spiritual support.
Growing
COMMUNITY
God wants us to live in community. We connect children & families with local Cherkassy camps, schools and churches so they can build a relationship with Jesus and the Christian community.
Finally! After what seems like months, our volunteers were able to travel to visit the kids at the orphanage. Our dream team of Inna, Lena, Simon, and Ruslana bravely packed up “Franko” (our trusty Volkswagen van) with goodies and useful things and set out for the 50-mile journey to Shpola. Of course, it takes longer to get there during wartime, as there are various checkpoints to pass, and having to stop to seek shelter when the air raid sirens go off.
“We cannot stop living our lives…that’s how the enemy wins!”
In every country around the world, and especially in Ukraine, young people are the future of the nation. A year ago, many Ukrainians were simply unable to fathom the idea of making plans. The idea of “tomorrow” for many people was just too uncertain and too far away. Over the past several months, however, a new sentiment of “just living life” has got many young people bravely making plans for the next phase of their lives.
In every country around the world, and especially in Ukraine, young people are the future of the nation. A year ago, many Ukrainians were simply unable to fathom the idea of making plans. The idea of “tomorrow” for many people was just too uncertain and too far away. Over the past several months, however, a new sentiment of “just living life” has got many young people bravely making plans for the next phase of their lives.
Maybe you have already heard of Bakhmut.
Maybe you are sick of hearing about Bakhmut.
The battle of Bakhmut has already claimed 30,000 lives.
Including two of our precious Ukrainian sons.
And it has not been won yet.
Maybe you are sick of hearing about Bakhmut.
The battle of Bakhmut has already claimed 30,000 lives.
Including two of our precious Ukrainian sons.
And it has not been won yet.
How do your donated items get to the front lines? And what about the financial gifts that are given? How does Hope Now get much needed funds over to Ukraine? Many of our donors are curious about this.
Rest assured, the practical items that people like you purchase off our Amazon Wish List arrive in Atlanta, are sorted, repackaged, and packed up ready for Children and Soldiers. The boxes of hats, scarves, and warm gloves that American school kids send in are laundered, sorted, and divided up. The plastic bags of hotel shampoos, soaps, and lotions that our traveling donors drop off are made into sets and are tucked inside the winter boots that are designated for the orphanage. The First Aid Kits are opened up and supplemented with 10 additional essential items that we manage to stuff inside. Every flashlight is filled with batteries, and an extra set of batteries is taped to it. The coats and snow pants from Goodwill are examined, washed & dried and used to line the bottoms of all our duffle bags. Since Ukraine operates as a cash society, the funds that you donate online, are turned into crisp $100 bills, and are allocated to our projects and put directly into the hands of our trusted volunteers for distribution (with receipts provided!)
Rest assured, the practical items that people like you purchase off our Amazon Wish List arrive in Atlanta, are sorted, repackaged, and packed up ready for Children and Soldiers. The boxes of hats, scarves, and warm gloves that American school kids send in are laundered, sorted, and divided up. The plastic bags of hotel shampoos, soaps, and lotions that our traveling donors drop off are made into sets and are tucked inside the winter boots that are designated for the orphanage. The First Aid Kits are opened up and supplemented with 10 additional essential items that we manage to stuff inside. Every flashlight is filled with batteries, and an extra set of batteries is taped to it. The coats and snow pants from Goodwill are examined, washed & dried and used to line the bottoms of all our duffle bags. Since Ukraine operates as a cash society, the funds that you donate online, are turned into crisp $100 bills, and are allocated to our projects and put directly into the hands of our trusted volunteers for distribution (with receipts provided!)
Hope Now Ministries in Ukraine - Sponsor Orphans from the US
Hope Now Ministries is a USA based Christian charity focusing on the orphan community in central Ukraine. We continue the work that our founder and missionary Rev. Vic Jackopson started in 1992. Again and again, God shows His deep abiding love for widows and orphans throughout scripture. In everything we do, all of us at Hope Now aim to bring glory to God while serving His most precious ones. Our attention is centered around orphans, families and community.Over the years, Hope Now USA has a developed a special relationship with Shpola Orphanage – including the Directors, as well as the 140 children who call Shpola home. We partner with the staff, in their own words “to help them realize their dreams for the orphanage.” Together, we have improved the physical living conditions of the children by sponsoring several building projects and implementing a school uniform program. Our teacher training curriculum was greeted enthusiastically and continues today. Our volunteer teams are welcomed anytime, especially for our regular Sunday School Days and numerous camps. Our child sponsorship program offers Hope Now donors a unique way to connect the love of Christ to His children in Ukraine.
We all need a loving family to thrive. Frequently, Shpola families have been broken apart by life's challenges, but some of these families can be renewed. Hope Now cares for many families of orphans who struggle to live a full life. The Lord guides us to mothers who desire to raise their own children, but who need the loving support of Christ, a mentor and a hand up.
Children graduate from Shpola at the end of 9th grade and their life at the orphanage comes to an end. Hopefully, with encouragement, most continue on to Trade School education but this means moving to a new city, living in a public dormitory and being assigned a social worker. With the help of several talented and dedicated seminary students, Hope Now Ministries has developed a thriving Youth Group for Shpola graduates that meets each week in the town of Cherkassy, where many graduates relocate from Shpola. They can relax with familiar faces, share each other’s burdens, form relationships with Christian mentors, all while learning about God’s great love for them. Here, they are eased into a caring Christian community.
To facilitate our efforts, Hope Now USA partners with local churches and charities in the Cherkassy region. Each organization offers opportunities for orphans and families to connect with their local community. Christian leaders are active in the organizations we support and they bring the strength of community to the lives of the lost.
