Going Where Help is Needed in Ukraine 

IFCJ Canada  |  August 21, 2026

Fellowship Israel family visited the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv several times this summer, with the most recent visit taking place a little more than two weeks ago.  During these visits, IFCJ staff met with our partners and beneficiaries, witnessing firsthand the devastating impact of the attacks that has endured for more than four years. As relentless bombings and strikes continue, homes, businesses, and even synagogues have been destroyed, leaving communities facing unimaginable loss and uncertainty. 

In fact, Fellowship Israel family were in Kyiv on May 24 when a massive missile-and-drone attack was launched on the capital. The Lukianivskyi Market, a long-standing food market that has served the local community for many years, was heavily damaged and nearly destroyed. The nearby Kvadrat shopping center and surrounding residential buildings were also hit.  When air-raid alarms sounded, Fellowship Israel staff and their families sought for safety in a protected area of a local metro station. 

Yet despite the ongoing danger, they returned to Kyiv in July, determined to stand with those in need and help distribute essential food boxes to families facing the realities of war. 

. With the local market severely damaged and the continued threat of missiles and drones, the people of Kyiv face growing challenges in accessing food.  IFCJ staff visited the Fellowship-supported Or Avner Perlyna School, which sustained damage from direct strikes in May, to offer support and assistance to those affected.  The school, which also provides a safe and caring home for Jewish children who have lost their parents, is currently home to 124 children. 

. On July 21, Fellowship Israel family hosted a distribution event at Or Avner, where elderly people and families affected by the ongoing attacks received food boxes. The boxes were packed with essentials, including protein-rich foods such as eggs, fresh produce and vegetables, and shelf-stable goods such as rice and canned foods that can be easily prepared. 

 During their visits, Fellowship staff also visited the homes of elderly beneficiaries who are unable to leave their homes to receive aid, many of whom are Holocaust survivors.  They, along with everyone who attended the food distribution event, expressed their deepest gratitude to our donors for continuing to remember and support them. 

“Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them” (Deuteronomy 4:9).