Karina, a 44-year-old mother of two, fled the conflict in Ukraine in 2022 to find refuge in Poland with her family. At first, the family chose to settle in Warsaw, to be near doctors who could provide care for her son who suffers from a severe case of cerebral palsy. However, the family’s finances were limited, dependent upon disability and the small income her husband generated working as a driver. Because of high living costs, the family was forced to relocate again.
Amid their struggles, Karina received some good news: she and her family qualified for a cash-assistance program funded by UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) and implemented by IOCC and partner ELEOS Poland. This financial assistance in their time of need was crucial, allowing her to afford her son’s rehabilitation treatments and medications.
Karina expressed profound gratitude for the help and support she received from IOCC and its partners, which has relieved not only her financial burdens, but lifted much of her stress and given her and her family a new hope for the future.
