“I Have No More Tears to Cry”

IFCJ Canada  |  October 23, 2026

Katerina Gorshkova has survived the horrors of the Holocaust, the loss of loved ones, and a lifetime of hardship.  But today, at 85 years old, Katerina faces a heartbreaking reality. Frail and too weak to grow her own food, she struggles with hunger, battles the bitter cold, and faces each day almost entirely alone, uncertain of where her next meal will come from or how she will keep warm.

When The Fellowship team visited Katerina’s home in a remote Ukrainian village, they witnessed some of the most heartbreaking living conditions they had ever encountered during their humanitarian journeys.

Her tiny, deteriorating shack contains little more than a bed, a small kitchenette, and a lamp.

Severely ill and barely able to move on her own, Katerina relies on a neighbour who checks on her every few days. Her meagre pension is barely enough to cover basic necessities, leaving her struggling to afford food, medicine, and firewood to heat her home.

Katerina’s suffering began long before the current war in Ukraine. As a young girl, she lost her father to the Nazis, leaving her mother to raise four children alone. She remembers the hunger of her childhood all too well—a hunger she now faces again in her old age. After losing her husband at a young age, Katerina raised four children of her own. Tragically, two have since died from illness. One son is now fighting in the war, while another lives far away. Reflecting on a lifetime of loss, Katerina shares, “I have no more tears to cry. My life has been full of so much sorrow,”

Yet despite everything she has endured, Katerina’s faith remains unshaken. She remembers her mother teaching her to pray and light the Sabbath candles as a child. Although she can no longer recall the prayers she once knew, she continues to speak to God in her own words, praying for the safety of her son and for the people of Ukraine and Israel. Even in her darkest moments, her heart remains full of compassion for others.

When The Fellowship team arrived with a food package and a warm winter blanket, Katerina’s gratitude was overwhelming. “May God bless you, I am so happy that you came to visit me.”

For a woman who spends most of her days alone, the visit meant far more than the essential supplies she received. It was a reminder that someone cared, that her suffering had not gone unnoticed, and that she had not been forgotten.

For vulnerable elderly Holocaust survivors like Katerina, the bitter winter months bring fear, hardship, and uncertainty. Without enough food, warmth, or a helping hand, each day can become a struggle for survival. Yet Scripture reminds us to “carry each other’s burdens” (Galatians 6:2).

Through the kindness and generosity of our faithful supporters, IFCJ Canada can share God’s love in action — bringing nourishing food, winter essentials, and compassionate care to isolated elderly Jewish people, reminding them that they are not forgotten, not alone, and always precious in God’s sight.

Through IFCJ Canada’s Gifts of Peace catalogue, your gift of Heating Essentials can help protect vulnerable elderly Jewish people from the bitter cold. Share God’s love through the gift of warmth, and remind someone who has endured so much that they are not forgotten or alone.

Give the Gift of Warmth Today