Come Get Your Blessings
We are Ukrainian…Hear Us Roar
As you probably already know by now, Ukrainians are very strong and resilient – especially our volunteer team who relies on the Armor of God for their protection. And God has continually proven to all of us at Hope Now, that He protects His children of all ages. Young and old alike.
Over the River and Through the Checkpoints
Our volunteer team continues to risk life, limb, and the chance to be conscripted into the army, in order to drive all the way out to the orphanage. Yes, even during this challenging time of war, our team continues to bring warm clothes, food, and supplies that the children need in order to survive. They also bring the Good News to share with the children and staff.
3 hours in a Bomb Shelter with 60 Kids
Recently our dedicated team made the 2-hour trek (made longer, due to the many army checkpoints they must stop at) to the orphanage to see the children. They got to experience what it is like to spend 3 hours in our newly converted shower rooms / come bomb shelter, as the air raid sirens raged loudly outside. However, they made the most of their time, and used the 3 hours to outfit 60 of the kids with warm pajamas, undies, hats, coats, and tennis shoes to those that needed them. We still have 90 additional children that we need to provide for.
The Face of a Child Tells All
We wish you could hear the children’s excited voices and feel one of their somewhat sticky hands in yours and breathe in the almost desperate love they have for us when we visit. We hope that when you look at the kid’s faces in the photos, you will understand why we do what we do. And you can be a part of our team too, by sending a Bag of Blessings to a child living in Ukraine.
Be On Our Team!
Yes, you can be a part of our team, by sending a Bag of Blessings to a child living in Ukraine. These kids need warm thermal underwear, toys, games, toiletries, and most of all – they need to know that someone on the other side of the world cares about them and is praying for them. The notes that folks like you write, and the photos you enclose into your Bag of Blessings are practical ways that you can reassure a Ukrainian child that God sees their plight and He will not leave them or forsake them.
Angels are Watching Over…
So, be an angel and make up a Bag of Blessings for a Ukrainian child today! Then send your bag to our office in Atlanta to arrive by November 20 (the sooner the better – we have to translate your note!) and our team will pack up and bring all the Bags of Blessings to Ukraine just after Thanksgiving. We have so much to be thankful for…but kids in Ukraine right now cannot think of much to give thanks for as they struggle to live through the chaos in their own country. When they receive your Bag of Blessings, they will truly thank God for you.
Here's what to do…
Just click on the Pink link, and you should be able to print off an instruction sheet which tells you what to do. Basically, you fill up a Hefty 2.5-gallon zip bag with NEW essential items that kids in Ukraine need right now. Please remember that millions of children in Ukraine have been displaced and they are now living in new surroundings – new homes, schools, orphanages, churches – most displaced kids had to leave everything behind, and there is just not enough money to replace everything that has been left behind or destroyed.
It's OK if you go “off-piste”
You don’t have to buy every single item on the instruction sheet, and you can even get other things instead. But please write down what is inside each bag, so that we know the contents and we can add in any items we feel are absolutely essential. We have many older children (high school age) at the orphanage, so please remember that we need bags for both boys and girls, from age 5-18.
You’re Just Not into It?
Hey it’s ok, we understand. There are many people who just don’t have time to go shopping and make up a Bag of Blessing. However, we want to be able to give one to every child at the orphanage – and we have 90 kids who have not received anything yet. We also help out at the local school, and we have several pastors who are now fostering children. So, we need a lot of Bags! If you want to participate, another option is for you to donate on our web site, and we will make up the bag for you
Other Ways to Help
When we make our own Bags of Blessings, each bag usually costs us around $100, but any donation amount you can give is appreciated! You could also just go shopping and buy (in bulk) some of the items on the list. We will use these items to help us make up more bags for kids. If you shop online, just use Hope Now as the ‘Ship To’ address – then you won’t have to pay extra for shipping! Just be sure to click the box that says “gift” and leave us a note so that we know who to thank when we receive your donated items. Otherwise, we have no idea who sent it.
Thank you from Ukraine
We can assure you, that these Bags of Blessings will be a HUGE gift to each child who receives them this winter in Ukraine. It is already very cold in Ukraine, and gas, electricity and coal are being conserved – so it’s COLD. Please consider sending a Bag of Blessings to a Ukrainian child today!
Come Get Your Blessings
In Acts 20:35 the apostle Paul is speaking to the church of Ephesus when he quotes Jesus by saying: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” When Jesus says our giving is more blessed, He's telling us that there is more happiness or joy to be found in God when we give, rather than when we receive.
Also in News
365 Days of War
One year ago today, on February 24, 2022, at around 5:00 am in Ukraine, the world as we know it changed. And it wasn’t for the better. Our volunteers and I, and the people we serve in Ukraine, all remember what we were doing when that first missile strike hit. At the beginning, no one really knew what to do – but God gave us ideas and soon we had a plan.
A Tragic Goodbye
