Arkady lives alone in a village near Rivne, following the death of his parents. For many years, Arkady cared for his mother and father, both of whom suffered from chronic illnesses. Unfortunately, with no one else available to provide the critical support they needed, Arkady was forced to leave his job and concentrate on taking care of them.
After his parents succumbed to their illnesses, Arkady had difficulty finding work, causing him to struggle financially and emotionally. To make matters worse, a severe storm damaged the slate roof of his house, with no financial assistance from the local government, Arkady had to buy supplies (slate) on credit and make arrangements for the repairs to be completed. It was only with support from JRNU and the local Jewish community that Arkady was able to have the job completed and see his home restored.
Grigoriy worked as a doctor in Eastern Ukraine until 2014 when he was forced to leave his home and his medical practice. He immigrated to the village of Kekyne in the Sumy region, where he provided care to many people.
Sadly, several months after the invasion in 2022, Grigoriy was again forced to flee his home, as community members implored him to move out of harm’s way. This time he stayed with friends in the city of Sumy.
The stress and strain of his daily work combined with the challenges of the ongoing crisis caused Grigoriy’s health to deteriorate significantly, requiring extensive and costly medical treatment. He is currently waiting for the payment from the government to assist with the expenses. In the meantime, he can’t leave his home and finds it difficult even to move around the apartment.
Grigoriy remains determined to help others even as he struggles with basic living activities. He promotes a positive and encouraging outlook, regardless of individual circumstances. We are honored to provide him with ongoing support for his medical and other needs.
Iryna has worked in the Jewish community for years and has also been an active volunteer, consistently helping others and supporting programs and initiatives. She is a single mother, balancing work and volunteer activities with raising her daughter; she receives no financial support from her daughter’s father.
Recently, Iryna was in an accident and suffered serious injuries including torn muscles and a traumatic brain injury. She requires long-term treatment, drug therapy, and ongoing medical supervision, all of which was exhausting and expensive.
After completing her first round of treatment, Iryna’s doctors prescribed physical therapy to restore motor functions and allow her to return to a normal life, including her job. After two rehabilitation courses that Iryna paid for, she now requires further medical treatment and rehabilitation.
Somehow, despite her health problems, Irina continues to work, but her salary is not enough to provide for her daughter and cover her medical bills. She can barely afford food, personal hygiene products, utilities and medicines; there is no money in the budget to continue physical therapy. However, failing to complete the treatment will negatively affect Iryna's health and could lead to a deterioration in motor functions.
It has been an honor to assist Iryna by covering the cost of a rehabilitation course that is critical to her continued recovery. Iryna and her daughter have come to rely on JRNU and the local Jewish community for their very survival, and we won’t let them down.
Together we save lives and restore hope.
