09 March 2022 | Warsaw, Poland [Daniel Kluska with tedNEWS]
More than 1.2 million people have crossed from Ukraine into Poland since the Russian invasion began on 24 February. According to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), this is the “fastest-growing refugee crisis in Europe since WWII”.
The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Poland responded immediately to the crisis. A team of over 6,000 volunteers made provision to accommodate up to 1,200 refugees in churches and private homes. Since the start of the war over 400 refugees were sheltered. Church members from across the country are opening not only their hearts but also their homes demonstrating that solidarity knows no borders.
Additionally, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) in Poland sent teams to help at different crossing points. The ADRA teams handed out “Start Packages”, parcels with essential items, and arranged transportation for the refugees. ADRA Poland also sent humanitarian cargo into Ukraine.
The Adventist charity foundation Blisko Serca [Close to Heart] furnished two of their centres to house Ukrainian refugees. Orion in town of Wisla, and Polubie in the village of Zatonie are ready to shelter up to seventy people.
The College of Theology and Humanities in Podkowa, Leśna, has already welcomed over thirty refugees. Plans are in motion to make more rooms available and increase its capacity. Additionally, a kindergarten for refugee children will be opened on campus, operated by volunteers from the local church.
The youngest members of the church are also involved in supporting refugees. The Adventist Scouting Association in Poland and Pathfinder groups hosted collections across the country. The response was overwhelming. Sleeping bags, mats, blankets, pillows, duvets, hygiene products, non-perishable food items, torches, first aid kids and other items were donated. The donations were sent to the western Ukraine, where many Ukrainians are migrating to escape the war.
Pastor Ryszard Jankowski, president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Poland, visited the border with pastor Tomasz Żelazko and offered a group of refugees a lift of their way back to Warsaw.
“It is impossible to describe the scale of the activities that are being carried out by Church through its institutions, but also by local churches and individual members,” said Daniel Kluska, Polish Union Conference Communication and Media director. “Many local churches have paused Sabbath services to use their premises to provide accommodation for refugees. Many are sacrificing much to help and opening their homes to welcome those in need.”
