Many of us take the time around the Thanksgiving holiday to reflect on gratitude. I know I have much to be thankful for, to include living in this beautiful, peaceful Monadnock region. My heart goes out to the many people around the world who are not so fortunate.

In late October, I returned from my fifth trip to Poland since the war in Ukraine started; it is difficult to fathom that almost two years have passed since Russia invaded. And, as attention is slowly drawn away to other parts of our world likewise struggling with war and devastation, it might be tempting to believe that “We have done what we could here.” Unfortunately, that would be inaccurate.

While many Ukrainians have returned to their homes in Ukraine (sadly, I heard about several people who returned, only to be killed), about 2 million remain in Poland. I was told there is only a small trickle of Ukrainians coming into Poland now. There is good news in that some refugees who stayed have been able to start fresh, finding jobs and homes. However, there remain many who need continued assistance, especially single parents, the elderly, children and disabled.

I heard repeatedly that overall funding for Ukrainian refugees in Poland has waned, but there are still many individuals and groups who continue to help. I am thankful for the wonderful Poles I have gotten to know. The individuals/organizations First Church in Jaffrey has been supporting with donations from many generous people, both members and non-members, continue to focus on helping, primarily in Poland but also in Ukraine, where there are many internally displaced persons.

First, there is Stefanie and the Lapigua foundation in Zamosc. They have created a Ukrainian community center, offering programs, food packages and clothing. Volunteers (both Ukrainians and Poles) are slowly but surely fixing up the place as funds become available. During my visit, there was a steady stream of people coming in for assistance. Lapigua is also helping a community of disabled individuals. In the past several months, they have ventured into new territory by supporting three orphanages in Ukraine and an organization in Lutsk that houses a home for evacuees, offers psychiatric assistance and sends supplies to the front.

Over the summer, they networked within Ukraine to help send children to a summer camp in the Carpathian region, where it is relatively safe. Both First Church and the Keene Lions Club provided funding for this program.

Likewise, Dom Matki (House for Mothers) in Warsaw, which houses women with small children,has extended its help through its network of volunteers. They have so many irons in the fire, that when I visited with the young, energetic director, Anna, I actually asked her whether she sleeps! In addition to the mothers and children at the home, they support single parents in the area; Anna made a point of noting that there are a few fathers in this group. They work with disabled individuals (to include a child with Reye syndrome), send clothing and other supplies to Ukraine, create special programs and put together packages for women soldiers on the front lines.

In my most recent meeting in Lublin with Lukasz - who continues to go back and forth into Ukraine (sadly, often to attend the funerals of friends) - he told me he is currently concentrating his efforts on helping veterans who have been injured and is part of a team that seeks to ransom children from Russian kidnapping. The stories he shared painted a picture that is hard to fully comprehend from a distance.

With Christmas just around the corner, First Church is working with Lapigua and Dom Matki to provide some holiday cheer for children and those with special needs. As a follow up to my conversation with Anna, we have received a list from Dom Matki with the requested “dream gift” from the 29 children there. The wishes range from a “big tractor,” to a drawing set, to a screwdriver for a young man of 18 who is disabled but wants to feel useful. All items are available in Poland and will be purchased by volunteers with the funds we are able to send.

In Zamosc, we are helping get gifts for refugee children in Ukraine for both St. Nicholas Day and Christmas and will contribute to Lapigua’s planned Christmas gathering at the community center for both refugees and elderly Poles who are in need. I wish I could go to that get-together!

The situation in Poland and Ukraine is constantly shifting; by my going to Poland periodically, we are able to adjust our support as needed. If you are moved to donate, you can make checks out to First Church in Jaffrey, with “refugee support” in the memo line. Send to the church at P.O. Box 673, Jaffrey, NH 03452. Both Lapigua and Dom Matki are on Facebook, if you would like to connect directly.

Ilona Kwiecien is a Jaffrey resident whose parents were Polish refugees after World War II. Her last Army assignment before retiring in 1998 was as Army attaché in Kyiv for 2 1/2 years. She has made five trips to Poland to help refugees displaced by Russia’s war in Ukraine.