As internally displaced people (IDPs) from eastern Ukraine seek safety in other parts of the country, their arrival puts pressure on local services. Irpin is a city of about 65,000 people northwest of Kyiv. By August of this year it was playing host to nearly 24,000 IDPs, including around 5,000 children.

Voluntary organisations such as Serve Now play a vital role in relieving this pressure. In the six months to the end of August, Serve Now assisted 100 IDP families with food parcels, containing basic necessities such as cereals, cooking oil and tinned food. The families also received a cash voucher, enabling them to choose fresh items such as dairy products and meat, according to their own needs and preferences.

“This aid goes far beyond meeting physical hunger,” says Serve Now worker Tanya Shpygunova. “It restores dignity and gives reassurance to people who have lost so much during the war.”

Marina and her husband and their 11-year-old son are one of these families. Displaced from their home in Pokrovsk, Donetsk region, they found refuge in Irpin earlier this year. “The food package came just at the right time,” Marina says. “The staff at Serve Now welcomed us with a smile and showed us respect.”

The Serve Now team also ran Christian summer camps for children, and focussed on first aid in their training sessions for volunteers. Tanya says, “We need to ensure they are equipped to respond to emergencies in this challenging environment.

“We are extremely grateful for Blythswood’s support. It has given us the opportunity to develop our team and has made us feel more confident in our ministry.”

Marina with her husband and son: “Your help came just at the right time”.