The year 2025 began with a fury of activity as we responded to heightened Russian assaults on energy supplies that threatened to leave the most vulnerable in the dark. While others debated, we acted, purchasing and installing emergency generators at critical sites like the Fortuna orphanage and the Hospice of North Carolina to ensure that essential care never stopped despite the freezing temperatures. But the crisis next door demanded even more innovation. When we learned that traditional ambulances in Ukraine were becoming targets for attack drones, we deployed a rugged SUV to serve as an inconspicuous rescue vehicle, allowing teams to evacuate the critically wounded without attracting lethal attention.
This resilience extended far beyond emergency relief. At our Casa Irina community center, we are building a generation of winners. Village children who once had few constructive outlets are now taking home regional wrestling medals, placing in national singing contests, and drastically improving their school marks through our tutoring programs. We also refused to let refugee children fall behind, equipping a virtual classroom in Criuleni with laptops so students can continue their education online in their native Ukrainian language.
Our work is a massive logistical operation, moving 40,000 lbs. of medical equipment from North Carolina to Chisinau and coordinating nine truckloads of hospital furniture from the Netherlands. Sustaining this momentum requires partners like you. It takes $35,000 to keep the doors open at Casa Irina for a year, $8,000 to ship a container of supplies across the ocean, and just $4,000 to fund the staff needed for a refugee classroom. Just because the families we serve live far away doesn’t make their lives any less valuable than those closer to home.
We invite you to read the full 2025 Report to Friends to see exactly how your support is saving lives and building futures.