Yesterday, Olena and her two daughters, Sofia 7-year-old and Anastasia 11-years-old stayed in our warm tent at the border until a car came and took them to go to Germany. They came from Kyiv and they stayed hidden in the basement from the day the bombing started. After 5 days, the girls started crying and begging their mother to save them. They were very frightened. For the girls, their mother decided to go to Germany because her husband has some acquaintances there. Their father remained in Ukraine to fight the war. From Kyiv to Siret customs the family made 5 days.
Also at the border, after many days of hiding from bombing, an 8-year-old Ukrainian child wanted to draw a digital art image of Star of hope's logo, as a sign of gratitude for helping him and his mother. They came from Kyiv and wanted to go to Poland.
Star of Hope USA Disaster Account for Ukraine is open.
Star of Hope is continuing its disaster fundraising efforts to help war-torn civilians on the ground in Ukraine. "We must help. The families of Ukraine have been our friends for over 30 years," says Star of Hope CEO Mark Presson.
Star of Hope's commitment to Ukraine gained momentum in 1993, when it started a rehabilitation camp for children affected by cancer due to the Chernobyl disaster. From 1991 to 2021, the Star of Hope also conducted aid operations in Russia. “It cuts to the heart when we have close friends on both sides of a conflict.” Presson states. “We exist for the civilian victims, regardless of their nationality.”
Presson also notes, “When people are forced to flee their homes, urgent needs arise for the most basic items. It's about food, water, clothes, medicines, and a roof over your head. Our long-standing relationship with Ukraine and its people gives us unique opportunities to act quickly and reach out with targeted efforts.”
Right now, on the southwest border of Ukraine, Star of Hope Romania’s social workers and staff are meeting refugees. They have open arms and hearts and even small gifts for the children. Two trucks loaded with relief supplies have left Star of Hope Sweden bound for Ukraine's western border, with one more truck planned. Star of Hope's Ukrainian partners are waiting for the much-needed materials. The plan is to move the supplies to several smaller vehicles and then attempt to get into Ukraine to reach families on the run. The relief materials need to be replenished and the list of needs is long.
In the future goods and equipment will be purchased in Romania. The goods are planned to be transported across the border to Ukraine. As the prices in Romania are lower than in Western Europe, a donation can go a long way.
Presson promises, “We will take in refugees at Star of Hope Romania locations which are on-site at the border of Ukraine to receive the women and children who are forced to leave their husbands/fathers and flee the war. We have earmarked three of our Romanian child support centers and centers for children with disabilities located in Iasi, Murgeni, and Dorohoi. These centers will be converted into shelters for families on the run. One center will remain concentrated on children with disabilities as that is a special competence we have in Romania.” Here, too, financing is needed to house, feed, and support families for as long as is needed.
Star of Hope, together with its international Star of Hope members, has worked since 1970 to give children a good start in life. The focus is on education, food, water, and the rehabilitation of children with disabilities. The goal is to give help in a Gospel-centered way. Star of Hope aid reaches ninety continuously supported projects in five continents. In the USA, Star of Hope is located in Ellinwood, Kansas.
Here are different ways to give a gift to support the people of Ukraine
* Send a Check to Star of Hope, PO Box 427, Ellinwood, KS, 67530
For questions, contact:
Mark Presson at 620 204 1864 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. You can also contact Kay Metsger at 503 936 4521 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Right now, Star of Hope Romania’s social workers and staff are on the border meeting refugees. They have open arms and hearts and even small gifts for the children.
Most of the staff at the border are women and today, on International Women's Day, we would like to draw attention to our Romanian staff, who have been helping women and children on the run since the outbreak of the Ukraine War. Star of Hope Romania today visited refugee camps and distributed gifts to refugees. They handed out warm blankets, heaters, and sweets, among other things.
Thanks to everyone who has already donated a gift! Please donate here: www.starofhope.us/give
After 33 years in Romania, we now face an unparalleled challenge. More than 50,000 Ukrainian refugees have already crossed the border, and Star of Hope Romania is doing everything to help them.
Already two days after the start of the war, our zealots stood at the border to welcome fleeing families with food, water, hygiene products, stuffed animals, and love.
"Since the beginning of the war, we have been praying constantly for our Ukrainian brothers and sisters!" says Star of Hope Romania's operations manager Aura Vatamaniuc.
The prayers will continue, but no one is content to just pray. Now three of our children's centers are being turned into shelters for the women and children who have been forced to leave their husbands and fathers in Ukraine. These are the rehabilitation centers in Iasi and Dorohoi as well as the resource center for Roma in Murgeni.
"Among those who flee are also families where the children have disabilities. For them, it is extremely valuable that there are now handicap-adapted refugee camps with rehabilitation tools and trained educators on-site" says Torbjorn Varsaga, from Star of Hope.
In parallel with the transformation of the centers, Star of Hope Romania is collaborating with other non-profit organizations to help refugees in Bârlad, Botoșani, and Suceava. It's about everything from guidance to hot meals and a roof over your head. In addition, they are preparing relief transports to the war victims who remain in war-torn Ukraine.
The needs are enormous, but together we can make a difference!
Star of Hope USA opens its disaster account for Ukraine.
Photo from 1941 Bombing of European children. Photo by Jared Enos - licensed under a Creative Commons
Due to Russia's invasion, Star of Hope is launching a disaster fundraiser to help war-torn civilians on the ground in Ukraine.
"We must help. The families of Ukraine have been our friends for over 30 years," says CEO Mark Presson.
Star of Hope's commitment to Ukraine gained momentum in 1993 when it started a rehabilitation camp for children affected by cancer as a result of the Chernobyl disaster. These children are now adults, and our original camp leader Djamal Hamaili is still in contact with many of the children who were helped. This Saturday, he would have flown down to Kyiv to meet them and investigate the need for assistance on the spot, but after the night's bombings, Ukraine has closed its airspace to all civilian traffic.
"The people are being forced to flee their homes, urgent needs arise for the most basic needs. It's about food, water, clothes, medicines, and shelter. Our long-standing relationship with Ukraine and its people gives us unique opportunities to act quickly and reach out with targeted efforts," says Mark Presson.
From 1991 to 2021, Star of Hope also conducted aid operations in Russia. "We are torn and our hearts ache when we have close friends on both sides of a conflict," says Mark. We exist for humanity, the victims, regardless of their nationality.
Facts / Star of Hope Star of Hope, together with its international Star of Hope members, has worked since 1970 to give children a good start in life. The focus is on education, food, water, and the rehabilitation of children with disabilities. The goal is to give help in a Gospel-centered way. Star of Hope aid reaches 90 continuously supported projects in five continents. In the USA, Star of Hope is located, in Ellinwood, Kansas.
Different ways to give a gift that will support the people of Ukraine
Many thanks to all of you who donated a gift to the annual Christmas parties in the Star of Hope project countries!
Around the world, children who usually live in poverty and vulnerability experience festivities with dancing, singing, plays, poetry readings, Christmas presents, and good food before the Christmas holidays began.
The parties were especially appreciated this time when so many were forced to live under pandemic restrictions and uncertainty for almost two years. In some projects, the celebration was very limited due to local restrictions.
Since the turn of the millennium, the Star of Hope has organized Christmas parties for hundreds of thousands of children around the world. Most recently, thousands of children in a dozen countries took part in the festivities. For many of the children, these Christmas parties are the only Christmas celebration they get to experience, so it is hugely appreciated.
Below you see photos from the celebration. Of course, you can really feel the joy. Rich Blessings and Thank You!
Thank you for your support and all you do for Star of Hope. Rich Blessings to you and yours on this New Year’s Day and know the children and the staff are blessed to have you on board!
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