At Our Home Ukraine, we carry out our mission by delivering essential and unique support to the residents of Izmail and rural communities within the Odesa Oblast. We are dedicated to fostering resilience and improving the quality of life for those in need through the following social service programs: Food Distribution, Village Family Assistance, and Widow Support & Summer Camp.
In 2023, Our Home Ukraine provided 18,708 food packages to those in need. Each month, we supported 1,280 elderly and/or disabled individuals and 214 IDPs/impoverished individuals and served 260 meals to disabled children at the Izmail Educational and Rehabilitation Center.
Through our Village Family Assistance program, we delivered 672 personalized aid packages to 35 families, meeting their unique needs.
Additionally, 52 participants attended Our Home Ukraine’s summer camp in Varna, Bulgaria, where they met our founder, Tanya Polsky. We also provided comprehensive support to 19 widows and their families.
Our Home Ukraine aims to empower children by offering access to arts and culture, STEM programs, and connections to global communities. We are committed to laying the groundwork for a thriving new generation of Ukrainians, fostering their growth and potential for a prosperous future through the following programs: Arts & Culture, Education, and Jewish Causes.
April 2023 marked the launch of OHU’s Arts & Culture program. Since its inception, OHU has hosted 353 participants on ten distinct cultural excursions. These excursions included visits to the Odesa National Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre, the Odesa Academic Theatre of Musical Comedy, and the Odesa Zoo.
Through July 2023, the Odesa Kindergarten program gave forty-five children access to technology and STEM education.
OHU expanded its support of Jewish causes by partnering with Mishpacha Children’s Home and sponsoring 2 renovations of its kitchen and classrooms. The improvements enhanced the orphanage’s facilities, enabling it to serve 120 children better. Additionally we provided micro grants to 35 Jewish communities in the Dnipro, Kyiv, and Cherkasy regions.
At Our Home Ukraine, we empower Ukrainians and those who work towards Ukraine’s freedom by providing critical assistance where it is most needed. We expand access to medical care, safety measures, and foundational resources for reconstruction through the following programs: Medical Aid, Firefighters, Emergency Refuge, and Ukraine Reconstruction.
OHU partnered with Operation White Stork to deliver over 10,000 Individual First Aid Kits (IFAKs) directly to frontline soldiers. We also provided crucial support by supplying three medical evacuation vehicles (each capable of transporting 21 critically injured soldiers per week), one portable surgical table, three pelvic slings, and advanced medical packs to frontline soldiers and medics.
OHU sponsored four Ukrainian firefighters to attend the Fire Department Instructors Conference (FDIC) in Indianapolis, IN, as part of our ongoing commitment to professional development and support. We also procured 200 tons of essential firefighter gear through collaboration with U.S. based firefighters.
In June 2023, OHU launched the Help Kherson Initiative, ensuring 140 individuals received essential supplies to access clean water. Furthermore, we provided immediate hostel shelter to 487 IDPs and served 39,430 hot meals. In September 2023, OHU assisted the city of Izmail by procuring critical supplies for its local bomb shelter.
At Our Home Ukraine, we value advocating for Ukraine within the United States by raising awareness about the ongoing war and fostering a deep sense of solidarity. We support social, cultural, and charitable initiatives and actively engage in educational seminars, international conferences, and cross-border projects in Ukraine and the U.S. through the following programs: Ukrainian Diaspora Support and Veterans.
In 2023, OHU increased its advocacy efforts and supported local and national charities throughout the United States, including:
St. Nicholas Cathedral School, Ukrainian Genocide Famine Foundation, Ukrainian National Museum, C Ukraine, and Yahad in Unum Mid America.
We also supported the Vet Voice Foundation and sponsored the annual programming for the Chicago Association of Veterans of WWII.
