Kathleen, a kind-hearted woman, opened her heart to the children in
Ukraine and decided to reach out to them through the Dobromel
Orphanage which houses children with mild disabilities. She shared her life
with them and encouraged them to write back to her, sharing their own
stories.
When the war broke out, Kathleen was devastated. She couldn’t imagine
what the children were going through, and felt a deep sense of sadness
and concern. She wanted to connect with them on a more personal level
than financially. She wanted them to know that they were loved and cared
for, and that they mattered. She also wanted to offer them hope and
encouragement through beautiful letters.
Luba, a MUCH-sponsored computer class teacher, helps the children read
Kathleen’s letter and writes a response. The children shared their past lives
and the horrors of war. One child wrote, “During the air raids, we have to
hide in the shelter to stay safe. To make it less scary, we sing, play games,
pray, and talk to each other. We believe that one day this nightmare will end
and we can live in a free and happy country.”
A child shared, “Like every Ukrainian today, we’re doing our part to help. In
our free time, we make blank candles for the front lines. We want to give
our soldiers a little warmth and light. We also weave bracelets. We draw
pictures too, so they know we love them and support them.”
Kathleen’s letters mean the world to these kids. They know someone far
away cares about them and is taking the time to write to them. For these
children, receiving and talking about a letter from someone who cares is a
big bright spot in many dark days.
This is the power of a kind and thoughtful gesture. It can take so little to
make someone’s day a little brighter.
