A united act of compassion, kindness, and support as we link arms with the people of Ukraine.
The Ukraine War Response
A message from Convoy President
Hal Donaldson on Ukraine.
The Relief for Ukraine campaign supports Convoy of Hope’s long-term efforts to bring relief to those affected by the war in Ukraine.
The news and images coming out of Ukraine are tragic - heartbreaking. As Ukrainians flee their homes, risking everything to avoid the bombs landing in their cities, they need the love, compassion, and kindness of others to bring them hope. That’s why Convoy of Hope is working with partners in Eastern Europe to provide food, water, and relief supplies to refugees and those affected by the war.
This tragedy is nowhere near over. Convoy is committed to staying in the region to do as much as we can for as long as we can. Together, let’s provide relief for Ukraine.
Supplies Shipped & Distributed in Convoy’s Response to the War in Ukraine
Over 882k
Individuals Served
Over 136k
Hygiene Kits Distributed
Feb 24th, 2022
On February 24th, Russian soldiers and tanks crossed Ukraine’s border, while airstrikes and explosives hit targets in major cities. Fleeing the battle zones, millions of refugees poured into neighbouring countries, including Slovakia, Poland, Moldova, and Hungary.
Convoy of Hope’s relief workers and global network of partners immediately mounted a massive response effort, meeting human need in eight countries. The first distribution centre was established in Lublin, Poland, to serve as a hub for outreach in Ukraine and Eastern Europe.
Trucks, cargo planes, and ships began delivering dozens of large shipping containers filled with food, medicine, tents, sleeping bags, hygiene kits, and more.
Within hours of the invasion, Convoy’s relief teams reported long lines at grocery stores and gas stations. And, as refugees migrated west, many were forced to sleep in the streets amid the rubble. Churches, cafes, and subway stations were transformed into temporary shelters.
Roads and bridges were destroyed in some areas, but relief supplies continued to be distributed throughout Ukraine. Sometimes they were shipped in trucks, but often supplies were sent in smaller, unmarked vehicles so as not to draw attention.
“Through our years of disaster relief experience,” President Hal Donaldson said, “our teams have learned to adjust to each situation. The bottom line is our teams and partners are getting the job done. People are receiving much-needed help.”
Convoy of Hope is committed to being in the region for the long haul.
When people lose everything, they need to know someone cares.
Continued Response
Convoy of Hope is partnering with organizations to provide food, water, shelter, and more to thousands of Ukrainian refugees who fled the war into Romania. Additionally, food and emergency supplies are being transported across the border into communities within Ukraine. Supplies are being distributed in major cities in Romania, such as Suceava — where Convoy is resourcing a partner’s warehouse.
In Ukraine, supplies are delivered to bordering communities like Chernivtsi and trucked as far as Kharkiv, one of the epicentres of the war. A 26,000-square-foot distribution centre was established in Lublin, Poland. This warehouse is a key resource centre for supplies entering Ukraine. Convoy will also support partners operating a second warehouse in Warsaw.
RELIEF PROJECTIONS
President of Convoy of Hope, Hal Donaldson said: “We’ve been working in Europe for more than 20 years, so rest assured Convoy of Hope is committed to staying and serving families displaced from their homes. We are pledging to provide 50 million meals in response to this crisis.
This is a united act of compassion. We owe a special thanks to the corporations that have delivered more than 120 large containers filled with food, medicine, clothing, and emergency supplies — utilizing ships, cargo planes, trucks, and more. In addition, dedicated team members, partners, and volunteers are working tirelessly to deliver supplies to communities throughout Ukraine and provide aid to refugees streaming across multiple borders.
With your support, we will continue to keep hope alive for months and years to come. Thank you for demonstrating kindness and linking arms with the people of Ukraine. May God bless you for caring and giving to people in need.”
“The thing you feel for the first three days [after leaving] is relief. You don’t hear bombing. Your child is safe. But then it passes, and sadness comes — such sadness that you understand [your old] life will never return.”
—Irina, Ukrainian refugee
July 6, 2022 | 10:05 p.m.
*The story below contains a firsthand account of human suffering and war, which some readers may find disturbing.
The city of Mariupol has been one of the most significant casualties of the war in Ukraine. Massive sections of the once-vibrant port city are in shambles, and thousands of civilians are dead. Nowhere is safe, and no section of the city has gone unscathed.
Convoy of Hope has continuously responded to the conflict since the beginning. Teams are still serving refugees who have fled Ukraine as well as those displaced within the country.
Karolina is one of those people. She has lived in Mariupol her entire life. At 19 years old, she had plans, goals, and dreams. “Before the war, I was taking online classes … I had a job, and everything was fine. Everyone lived their own lives and dreamed of a better future for themselves.”
When her mother startled her awake on February 24, that way of life ended.
Fighting intensified quickly. Days and weeks passed as the city gradually burned to the ground. Chaos erupted as people looted shops, and food became difficult to find. Electricity, water, and gas shut down. People trapped in the city cooked over open fires when they weren’t hiding in their basements.
“We all shared what food we had, helped everyone we could,” Karolina said. “It soon became apparent we could never go back upstairs to our apartment. If we did and a missile hit, we knew we would be killed.”
The cost of human life in Mariupol has been enormous.
“Probably the worst thing for me was to see so much death,” Karolina says. “Bodies lying on the road. Children were buried in blankets. They died of starvation or illnesses for which they could not receive medication. It was not uncommon to see at least ten crosses near each high-rise building for the dead.”
When Karolina finally had the chance to escape, it also came at a great cost — she had to leave most of her friends and family behind. Many were too old to travel. Others felt like they couldn’t leave people behind. Only Karolina and her sister took the opportunity to leave.
Their escape was perilous. They had to trust strangers when passing through an active war zone and more than 30 checkpoints.
“A large section of the road was mined. One wrong move, and you exploded,” Karolina said. “When we all passed the first Ukrainian checkpoint, and our driver stopped to rest, we all climbed out of the car and started crying.”
They made their way to Lviv, where Convoy of Hope and its partners welcomed them with open arms. “Thank you … for the help, food, and hygiene products that you provide us,” Karolina said. “As soon as we came here, we immediately understood that here we will be able to rest.”
The suffering in Ukraine is immense, and so is the need. That’s why Convoy remains committed to providing 50 million meals to people affected by the war.
Thank you for joining us as we provide hope to people whose lives have turned upside down.
NBC Features Convoy’s Ukraine Response
NBC’s Ellison Barber recently reported on Convoy of Hope’s commitment to feed the people of Ukraine. Watch as she visits Convoy of Hope’s warehouse in Poland and follows an aid shipment into the heart of the war zone.
June 29, 2022 | 4:35 p.m.
More than 125 days into the war in Ukraine, the needs in the country are still prevalent. Heavy fighting continues, with intense bombardment in eastern Ukraine and missiles hitting Kyiv.
The war has left medical centres overwhelmed, and families are in desperate situations. But thanks to Convoy of Hope’s generous supporters, we’ve been able to expand our aid.
The Salvation Army recently partnered with Convoy, donating $1 million worth of food and logistics to the response. Convoy recently received additional medical supplies from another generous partner. These valuable supplies are continually being sent to health care facilities in Ukraine.
Help in Romania & Poland
For those fleeing the war, border countries can be a source of refuge in an uncertain time.
Convoy is continuing to purchase truckloads of product in Romania and 10 containers filled with relief supplies have arrived in the country. Volunteers from a local partner organization repackaged the purchased food into kits that will be distributed in Ukraine. At a recent distribution, at least 600 people showed up to receive food. On average, volunteers in Romania are distributing 5,000 food kits per week and are working to increase that number as needs grow across the region.
On the border of Poland, a ministry group is helping greet thousands of refugees with supplies Convoy has provided.
The group, which has been there since the start of the war, prepares food, coffee and tea, supplies, and children’s toys for incoming Ukrainians. As buses make stops on the Polish border, these volunteers are there to bring “a good word and some food” to refugees who have gone days without a hot meal.
Nikolas, who is helping prepare meals at the border in Poland, says it can be easy to focus on the major cities where refugees land and overlook the work at the border.
“In Poland, people think about the cities. They don’t think about the border,” he said. “But on border, [it’s where you] open the door, you get to say, ‘Good morning, welcome to Poland.’”
With all the pain Ukrainians are going through, some normalcy and acts of kindness can make the biggest difference, Nikolas said.
The Ongoing Effort
Convoy continues to serve alongside volunteers and partners towards its pledge to provide 50 million meals to Ukrainians affected by the war. Hundreds of thousands have been helped thanks to your generosity.
To continue supporting Ukrainians in need, you can donate here.
June 29, 2022 | 4:35 p.m.
More than 125 days into the war in Ukraine, the needs in the country are still prevalent. Heavy fighting continues, with intense bombardment in eastern Ukraine and missiles hitting Kyiv.
The war has left medical centres overwhelmed, and families are in desperate situations. But thanks to Convoy of Hope’s generous supporters, we’ve been able to expand our aid.
The Salvation Army recently partnered with Convoy, donating $1 million worth of food and logistics to the response. Convoy recently received additional medical supplies from another generous partner. These valuable supplies are continually being sent to health care facilities in Ukraine.
June 15, 2022 | 4 p.m.
It’s been four months since the life of every Ukrainian was turned upside down. And since the beginning of the conflict, Convoy of Hope has been doing everything possible to help those who are hurting.
The documentary below chronicles our efforts so far and highlights the courageous Ukrainians we’ve been blessed to serve.
June 9, 2022 | 2:55 p.m.
Ukrainian church pastor Aleksandr writes in a Facebook post, “Back again on the road …”
Church members of all ages lined up to load a van heading into Eastern Ukraine with Convoy of Hope relief kits for people on the front lines. Some smiled, holding up the bags to a camera.
In early May, a Ukrainian church delivered a van of Convoy kits to Ukrainians fighting for their country and to those living in bomb shelters. They distributed around 700 Convoy relief kits and took five trips’ worth to Ukrainian soldiers.
In the middle of so much suffering, these church members are providing hope to their neighbours. Their efforts provide a significant contribution to Convoy of Hope’s pledge to provide 50 million meals to Ukrainians affected by the war.
Some of the folks working with the church quit their jobs to provide transportation. Clad in helmets and bulletproof vests, they drove supplies to meet Ukrainians in need. With rising fuel prices in Europe, this is no small feat to pay for out of pocket.
Altogether, they have provided groceries, personal hygiene products, clothing — and most of all, hope.
Sadly, this situation is all too familiar to Aleksandr, as Ukraine faced a deadly armed conflict in 2014-16. But he said volunteering during that time helped prepare him to respond to this war.
“When you understand why you are doing this and realise that soldiers are there every day, you do what you can, hoping for God’s protection,” he said.
And their work isn’t over. This Ukrainian church continues to be a hub of hope for displaced people in need of supplies.
“We believe that God unites us for great service,” Aleksandr said.
Thank you for your continued support as Aleksandr’s church helps Convoy get supplies to Ukrainians amid the war.
June 2, 2022 | 4:30 p.m.
Convoy of Hope’s response to the war in Ukraine is now entering its fourth month. As needs have increased throughout Europe, so has the scale of Convoy’s response.
Convoy of Hope continues to serve Ukrainians who are displaced or in need throughout eight European countries. More than 6.8 million Ukrainians are sheltering in countries outside of their own. Meanwhile, as military clashes have moved east, approximately 2.2 million Ukrainians have re-entered their communities to assess the damage.
Earlier this week, Nila and Eduard Zelinska returned to a burnt-out shell of what they used to call home. Among the rubble sat a doll that once belonged to a grandchild of theirs.
“May there be peace on earth, peace so that our people are not suffering so much,” Nila told Associated Press reporters.
Tragically, some Ukrainians still remain trapped in war zones. As fighting continues near homes and makeshift shelters, many are pinned down with little access to food, water, electricity, and other necessities.
“One community where one of our partners delivered relief supplies in Ukraine hadn’t had anyone come with supplies for 30 days,” said Mackenzie Edwards of Convoy’s Disaster Services team. “Bridges into the community were totally destroyed, so they used logs, limbs, two-by-fours, and whatever they could find to build a makeshift bridge to get access into the community. Upon their arrival, they met people who survived on the juice from their pickled produce and fruit compote. The people were so grateful for the food because they had gone so long without any humanitarian aid.”
Convoy of Hope remains determined to provide at least 50 million meals to Ukrainians in need, in addition to other necessities like water, medical supplies, hygiene items, and sheltering supplies. Thank you for your support as Convoy continues to meet needs across Europe.
Food and relief supplies from Convoy of Hope are delivered in Ukraine.
April 8, 2022 | 11:45 a.m.
Convoy of Hope is providing relief for more than 125,000 refugees across eight countries in Europe, including Ukraine. An on-the-ground team in Romania is putting systems in place to help even more Ukrainians as they cross the border.
While the majority of refugees have fled to Poland, world leaders are predicting Romania may be the next country to receive an influx of people. Convoy teams are providing for these individuals while also using partnerships to move supplies from Romania into the heart of Ukraine.
Convoy of Hope team members work alongside partners in Romania to provide relief for Ukrainians.
“People fleeing the war are running from a desperate situation,” said Convoy of Hope’s David Vanderpool. “They need food, not just to be healthy but also to have hope. Food is one of the best forms of hope that we can have. When you have a full stomach, you can plan for the future.”
With the help of generous donors, Convoy of Hope has supplied refugees with tuna, beans, pasta, dehydrated potatoes, rice, tomato paste, canned meat, and cooking oil. These groceries are providing physical and emotional nourishment for people just trying to make it to tomorrow.
Some of the donations Convoy has received are being used to supply groups like Fight for Freedom, which is working with a network of pastors in Ukraine.
“Fight for Freedom started when the war started,” said David. “This center was originally built to help ex-convicts reintegrate back into society after prison, and now they are helping others in need. We either take supplies to a warehouse or we meet in parking lots to exchange from semitruck to semitruck, and then Fight for Freedom hauls it.”
Even though the journey is overwhelming and dangerous, Convoy is committed to helping Ukrainians as they navigate the sorrow that comes with war. The work continues thanks to generous donors and Convoy’s brave partners who are willing to help those in need, despite the risks.
April 4, 2022 | 1:35 p.m.
Convoy of Hope, along with courageous partners in Eastern Europe, is delivering relief supplies to survivors in Ukraine. Supplies include food, water, hygiene items, baby food, and mattresses. Since the start of the war, Convoy has served more than 101,000 Ukrainians.
As needs grow and conflict continues to unfold, so do the stories of open doors for Convoy of Hope to reach hurting people. Communities in Ukraine that are nearly impossible to reach are finding relief because of this response.
“After facing some significant logistical challenges related to the inbound product, God went before Convoy’s team, finalising paperwork and processes that normally take weeks in just a matter of hours,” one team member explained from Convoy’s warehouse in Poland. “This will significantly help our team to increase the amount of product going into Ukraine.”
The Associated Press reports seven people were killed and 34 wounded — including children — by shelling in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city. Ukrainian officials also reported the discovery of 410 civilian bodies in towns around Kyiv.
“Ukrainian people are enduring a living hell,” United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said. “At the same time, we cannot lose hope.”
In recent days, several countries are starting to boycott Russian gas exports in an attempt to financially disable Russia. Until the war is over and in the time afterwards, Convoy of Hope is committed to helping as many people as possible for as long as possible.
Convoy of Hope can only respond in this capacity because of the generosity of donors and partners.
April 1, 2022 | 11 a.m.
Five weeks and counting, and there is no end in sight. Russian forces continue to pound areas around Ukraine’s capital and other populous cities. Convoy of Hope’s response has grown alongside the volume of refugees moving across multiple borders into safety.
Despite the constant conflict, Convoy’s teams are bringing relief to Ukrainians on their darkest days. Through the generosity of donors and partners around the world, Convoy continues to provide food, water, mattresses, baby food, shelter, hygiene items, emergency lighting, and generators to refugees across eight countries.
According to the Associated Press, Russian forces attacked portions of Ukraine just hours after pledging to scale back operations in those same areas. Ukrainian officials said Russian shelling hit homes, shops, libraries, and other civilian infrastructure in the northern city of Chernihiv and on the outskirts of Kyiv.
Convoy’s warehouses in Ukraine, Poland, and Romania are distributing life-sustaining supplies as soon as they come in — most of which have been purchased through partners in Eastern Europe.
Convoy is thankful for the donors and partners who have made this response possible. Thank you for helping Convoy help others.
March 13, 2022 | 10:15 p.m.
Though the influx of refugees pouring over Ukraine’s border into neighbouring countries has slowed since the war’s first weeks, the situation remains desperate for millions. Conflict has continued to edge closer to Poland and other countries on Ukraine’s westernmost border. Convoy of Hope continues to provide aid for refugees alongside many other individuals looking for ways to help.
“I am very grateful to you,” one refugee said after volunteering to help Convoy prepare a distribution centre. “I am very glad that we are together, [that] we are able to be here and help.”
Shortly after Convoy of Hope secured a warehouse for storing relief supplies, refugees in Poland pitched in to prepare the space. Although many had little more than a suitcase to their name, they gave what they did have: time and goodwill.
“Thank God for Convoy of Hope,” another Ukrainian said while cleaning the warehouse. “This is an organization that really takes care of people. They really cry — they are with us. They went with us to the border. They aren’t only financing and giving clothes. They are worried about us and it is a blessing for Ukraine. May God bless you all.”
Many who have been affected by the war have found ways to give back. Rental properties, cafes, and churches have transformed into makeshift shelters throughout Ukraine and Poland. Several once-trendy restaurants in Ukraine have become kitchens to provide nutritious meals to hospitals and displaced people.
One local organization began partnering with Convoy to provide food and water to refugees as they cross the border. Because of this partnership, the organization now feeds thousands of refugees each day.
Olga Romanchuk was one of many looking for a way to serve after the war began. “I felt that I wanted to help, but I couldn’t bear arms,” she told The Kyiv Independent. “I thought, I can cut potatoes — everyone can.” Olga now works with an IT specialist, a chemist, and several others from various backgrounds who make and deliver food to those in need.
“We still should not give up hope. Don’t give up! You must believe! You must live,” another Ukrainian told other refugees while volunteering alongside Convoy team members.
Thanks to supporters like you, Convoy of Hope’s team members and partners in Europe continue to provide emergency relief and shelter for refugees in addition to unloading pallets of supplies for distribution in Ukraine.
Convoy is grateful for those who — like many currently in desperate need — continue to give what they can to provide for those who need it most. To support this response and others like it, click here.
March 12, 2022 | 4:45 p.m.
Bombings and other attacks reached further west as the week came to a close. Many Ukrainians who thought they were outside of harm’s way are now questioning whether their distance from Russia’s border has any bearing on their safety. As the war displaces more civilians, Convoy of Hope is finding additional ways to provide emergency relief in six European countries, including Ukraine.
Convoy of Hope sent another team of relief workers from its global headquarters to assist teams and partners already in Europe. Though inventory from many Polish companies is starting to run low as the influx of refugees weighs on the nation’s supply chain, Convoy of Hope’s partners and supporters have created new opportunities to help those currently in need.
Two truckloads of relief supplies were loaded at Convoy of Hope’s World Distribution Centere on Friday morning. Airlink, a nonprofit partnering with Convoy for this crisis response, donated their services to provide transportation of 60 pallets of relief supplies, which will arrive in Europe to support refugees.
“The stories that Ukrainians are telling when they come over the border are getting increasingly worse every day,” said Chris Dudley of Convoy’s Disaster Services team. “The other night, over 20,000 people came through one border crossing alone during the overnight hours. A lot of people have the ‘thousand-yard stare’ when they come across the border into Poland. This war will have an impact on the Ukrainian people for generations.”
Residents of Ivano-Frankivsk, a city near Ukraine’s westernmost border, received orders to stay in air raid shelters on Friday. Meanwhile, officials worked to establish 12 new humanitarian corridors to allow additional refugees safe passage out of war zones and into other countries.
“We are dealing with the greatest migration crisis in the history of Europe since World War II,” Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski of Warsaw told The Associated Press. “The situation is getting more and more difficult every day.”
Warsaw’s mayor sent out an appeal for international help as more and more refugees pour into Poland’s capital. More than a tenth of all Ukrainians who fled their country are now in Warsaw.
Temperatures in Ukraine dipped into the single digits, causing even more concern for those currently without shelter, electricity, and basic necessities. Those huddling together in subway stations and other makeshift shelters are now beginning to worry about the spread of COVID-19 as well.
“I know of people who have tested positive since spending nights in the bomb shelters and on packed trains,” one relief worker said. “It’s not as big of a concern as a bomb or missile, but an added concern for sure.”
More than 2.5 million refugees have now fled Ukraine. More than 1.5 million of them are in Poland. The majority are women and children.
Thank you for partnering with Convoy to provide relief and hope to those who desperately need it.
March 11, 2022 | 6 p.m.
Irina is dressed in all pink — pink hat, coat, scarf, pants, and boots. She stands out from the many Ukrainian refugees, most of whom are bundled tight in shades of black and gray.
“The thing you feel for the first three days [after leaving] is relief. You don’t hear bombing. Your child is safe,” said Irina as she spoke with a Convoy of Hope team member. “But then it passes and sadness comes. Such sadness that you understand [your old] life will never return.”
Just days before, Irina worked in the import and export business. With tears in her eyes, she is unsure of what to expect from life in Poland. “You fall asleep with these thoughts and wake up. You do not know how to continue living.”
Irina is separated from her family — her husband required by the Ukrainian government to stay and fight near the border with Belarus. The two of them talk every 2 to 3 hours to make sure they and their children are alive.
When asked about her pink outfit, Irina’s answer was surprising. “Yesterday, when I looked at everyone, they were in black. My whole life I [have] hated pink. My whole life. My daughter was never dressed in pink. Never. [Now] it is my desire — the desire to be happy and [not] give up.”
Irina hates pink, but she chose to wear her resilience with colour. Her face is determined. She radiates the kind of hope that only comes to the surface under horrific circumstances.
“Belief is a feeling that God will never forsake me and my country. I have to believe in this. I have no other choice,” said Irina.
February 25, 2022 | 10 a.m.
Photo above: Police officers inspect an area after an apparent Russian strike in Kyiv Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday announced a military operation in Ukraine and warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to “consequences you have never seen.” (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Convoy of Hope is actively reaching out to local partners to find ways to help Ukrainians amidst attacks from Russia.
Early Thursday morning, Russia declared war on Ukraine. Soldiers and tanks crossed over Ukraine’s border while airstrikes and other explosives hit targets in several major cities, including Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv.
“We woke up in a different world today,” German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock told reporters after the attack began.
Ukraine’s Ministry of Internal Affairs has already reported hundreds of fatalities, just hours after the initial declaration. Early strikes targeted airports and Ukraine’s military bases. Residents woke up to air raid sirens in multiple cities, including Kyiv.
“There’s nowhere to run. All Ukraine is exploding,” one Ukrainian woman told The New York Times.
Through partnership across Europe, Convoy of Hope has worked diligently in Ukraine since 2014, alleviating suffering in and around the nation.
Convoy’s International Disaster Services team is actively trying to make contact with partners in affected areas. Please keep Ukraine in your prayers and continue to stand with Ukrainians who are suffering.