Vincentian Gingerbread Campaign 2023

It was August – September 2022. It was painful and helpless for us, the representatives of the Vincentian family, to observe the consequences of Russian occupation in the villages of Kyiv region – there were ruins, buildings destroyed in fire, devastation, and people’s tears.

We saw chaos and no hope. We faced challenges – how to help these people, and whom exactly should we help? The scope of destruction was so huge that we couldn’t help all these people! Evil just screamed – what can you do in such chaos?! – absolutely nothing, unreal, impossible… And if we help a few people, what about others? Many questions that led us to confusion.

Jesus is not afraid of confusion and chaos. God was the first to go ahead and to lead us. He helped us to understand that there were people, the image of God, left there. They were full of pain but alive, without all their possessions, but grateful that they were given life and that their land was liberated. It gave us courage and determination. Especially since many of our acquaintances and friends also wanted to help. There were many benefactors among them, primarily from Slovenia and other countries as well. We observed many organizations also offering their help to the victims. The Vincentian Family Foundation, established at the beginning of the full-scale invasion, helped us organize and assist the victims in the best way.

Together, we came up with a way to help. First, we met people, listened to their needs, and clearly defined what we could do. We decided to help those who wanted to rebuild their houses but did not have the resources to purchase building materials. To reach an agreement, understand, and make a decision, we traveled many kilometers, spent a lot of time, listened, and communicated, and all this was accompanied by prayer. “You gave us hope,” people said. The Lord comforts us in such a way, and this was a sign for us – keep going! Go step by step, and listen to people to hear and understand them. Do not rush to criticize, to judge, or to impose your point of view…

In 2022, the meeting of the Vincentian Family National Council representatives decided that the funds collected from the Vincentian Gingerbread 2023 charity event would be sent to support people who are rebuilding their destroyed homes.

Believers of Roman and Greek Catholic parishes from all over Ukraine joined the Vincentian Gingerbread 2023 campaign, and funds were sent to a special bank account. During the campaign, 436,570 hryvnias were collected in Ukraine.

However, the victims had much greater needs; the Lord cared for everything through other people. Most of the funds were received through donors from Slovenia, who responded after listening to the broadcasts of Ognishte Catholic radio about the tragedy of the war in Ukraine. After listening, the Catholics of Slovenia collected their donations for the purchase of building materials and assistance to the victims of this terrible war.

Through joint efforts, donations in the amount of UAH 2,570,296 were collected and used to purchase construction materials. 45 families from the villages of Zahaltsi, Moschun, Pidhaine, Irpin, Ivankiv received assistance with the purchase of building materials, insulation, wood for the roof, metal tiles, electric cable, suspended ceilings, laminate, indoor tiles…

We are grateful to all the donors—with your help, the light of hope lit up in the victims’ souls! May the Lord reward you with His gifts! Let faith and hope in kindness and mercy fill our hearts! Let us move forward with joint efforts to victory!

Each affected family has its own story. These stories inspire us not to stop but to continue doing good together. We would like to share some of these stories with you.

The story of Mrs. Zina

We ordered a mini-house for Mrs. Zina, an older woman who lived in a barn. It was delivered and installed in mid-October, before the cold weather. We experienced great gratitude from people. But this gratitude, first of all, belongs to you, dear benefactors, who donated money for people’s needs from the bottom of their hearts. We admire people whose hearts are open to goodness, which enables gratitude despite all the suffering they have experienced. It helps to stay sensitive and look ahead.

The story of Mrs. Katia

Mrs. Katia and her husband stayed in the occupied village for a long. When they understood that it was too dangerous to stay in the village, they decided to run away. While driving their old car, they noticed Russian soldiers straight ahead. In this grief, Mrs. Katia began to pray Psalm 91th. She says that both miraculously became invisible and calmly passed the invaders. After the deoccupation, they returned to the village, where they had just discovered ruins. The husband was seriously ill with cancer and died soon. Katya decided to build up their trailer and get an additional room. Her house is very pleasant to look at. The most beautiful thing is that she shines with hospitality and generosity. And also with the joy of life, which remains with her despite all the challenges.

The story of the Shpak family

The Shpak family hid in the basement for twenty-four days during the occupation. They hid all the time, and only at night they came out to cook something. When the Russian soldiers left their village, they burned their houses. In one moment, their family was left with nothing. The son and the daughter, with their families, were hosted by good people in the village, and with the help of good people, the grandfather and the grandmother arranged a small room in the barn, which they used as a bedroom, a kitchen, and a living room, all in one. They hurried to build a new house on the old foundations. They were one of the first people to receive help from us. When they recall the beginning of reconstruction, they always add: “We are grateful to our benefactors. By purchasing building materials, you motivated us not to remain in despair but to believe that we can rebuild our home with the help of good people. Hope and desire to live have returned to us.”

The story of Mrs. Valia

Mrs. Valya is a young grandmother living with her daughter and granddaughter, who was only a few months old when the war began. The house, which Valia built almost with her own hands, was destroyed. At that time, they temporarily rented accommodation in Bucha. Valia wanted to return to her village of Zahaltsi, to her own home. She asked us to help her with building materials. We brought her aerated concrete blocks on Ash Wednesday. The village construction team started work immediately. The builders finished the first slab when we arrived in their village on Saturday. And so, new houses are being built one by one in the burned areas. The very active head of the local community often proudly says about his villagers: “The bees are working.”

The story of Mr. Mykola

During the occupation, Mykola stayed in the village alone without his family. His wife, his daughter, and her few-month-old son left abroad. Their house was also destroyed. After the occupation, Mykola arranged a summerhouse in which to live. When his wife, his daughter, and grandson came back, they all started living in a small summerhouse. Mykola was in desperation and started drinking alcohol. His fellow villagers supported him and convinced him that he could do more so that he would not live in the summerhouse for a long time. So, they slowly restored his courage, and he started to build a house on the foundations of the ruins. Today, his house already has a roof. When we visit them, he always bows slightly as a sign of gratefulness. Mykola has also found a new sense in his life due to all the assistance provided to him, such as building materials, and he was able to stop drinking alcohol.

The story of Mr. Vitalii

ДBefore the war, Vitalii had his small business; he repaired cars in the garage. His youngest son and his family also lived with him and his wife. All five hid in a small basement where they stored potatoes during the occupation. The Russians burned everything – the house, garage, cars. They ran away to save their lives. After they came back home, the neighbors hosted them in their home. With the help of construction materials, their house already has a roof, but a lot of interior work is still needed. They want to live in their own house again soon.

More photos here