The Fellowship supports elderly Jews living alone and Holocaust survivors in Ukraine. This aid also extends to families struggling with poverty, including single mothers doing the best they can to provide for their children amid food shortages and war.
The Fellowship has been sending aid to Olga, who is raising her 12-year-old son with autism, Bogdan, on her own in Dnipro. Olga and Bogdan do not have any other relatives nearby, and Olga also deals with health problems of her own, including diabetes and asthma. She has not worked since her son was born because caring for him takes up all her time. Most of her days are spent taking him to school and appointments, as well as helping him shelter when air-raid sirens sound, since loud noises can cause him great discomfort. But Bogdan is far more than his disability. He is kind, gentle, and loves helping his mother with housework in their small apartment.
Since Bogdan was born, The Fellowship’s assistance has allowed Olga to take Bogdan to the specialists he needs for speech and psychological therapy, and has provided him with medical care, including surgery. Through these services, he has learned to better self-regulate, communicate, and interact with others. The support has also helped Olga better understand his needs and how she can encourage his development. The most important lesson she learned was not to push away the reality of her son’s condition and that it is OK to seek help. As a result, she is able to care for her son more calmly and confidently.
As the war in Ukraine damages infrastructure and disrupts food supplies, the bank card she receives each month helps her buy what she needs and put aside what little she can. Dnipro is full of Jewish life, with mezuzahs on doorposts, candles lit for Shabbat, and even Yiddish heard throughout the community. Despite the anti-Semitism she experienced as a child, Olga’s family never hid their Jewish identity. During the visit, she was making plans for Rosh Hashanah. Her wish is for this new year to be sweet for her and Bogdan.
She wishes the same to our donors: “We are grateful for everything that they give us. We wish health and family well-being to all the people who have been kind and supportive to us.”