• • After 9 days of war in Ukraine, more than 1 million refugees have fled the country, and almost 650,000 of them have come to Poland. The numbers are growing every day.
  • Adventist church members in Poland have prepared space for more than 1,200 people in church properties and private homes. ADRA, Pathfinders and others have collected goods for the Ukrainian people.
  • People can donate funds for Ukrainian refugees by transferring money directly to the Polish Union Conference’s bank account. See end of article for more details.

07 March 2022 | by Daniel Kluska |

In the first 11 days of the Russian attack on Ukraine, more than 950,000 refugees entered the country through the Polish border. Poles opened not only their hearts, but also their homes.

The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Poland also offered its help. The community of about 6,000 in Poland has prepared space for more than 1,200 people in church properties and private homes. So far, almost 400 people have benefited from the assistance.

Adventist relief organizations also are involved. Adventist Development and Relief Agency—Poland
visited several border and reception crossings. They handed out parcels and organized accommodations while learning about the most urgent needs of people fleeing the war.

ADRA prepared “Start Packages,” a set of basic personal hygiene items for people crossing the border.  It also is involved in humanitarian transport to Ukraine.

The Christian Charity Service “Blisko Serca” (English translation: “Close to the Heart”) has allocated two of its centers to receive refugees from Ukraine. Both the Orion center in Wisła and the Polubie center  in Zatonie (near Drawsko Pomorskie) are ready to host a total of more than 70 people.

The College of Theology and Humanities in Podkowa Leśna has already welcomed more than 30 people. More buildings and premises are being prepped to shelter more people.

A kindergarten for refugee children will be opened on campus in the coming days, operated by volunteers from the local church.

Young people are also getting involved. The Adventist Scouting Association (ZHA) and Pathfinders have organized charity collections all over Poland.

The response has been huge: sleeping bags, sleeping mats, blankets, pillows, duvets, hygiene products, long-term food, flashlights, batteries, diapers, medicines, medical aids and heating stoves were collected.

The donations were sent to the western part of Ukraine, where inhabitants of the eastern part of the country have fled.

The president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Poland, Ryszard Jankowski, also visited the border. Together with Tomasz Żelazko (another pastor), they visited one of the border crossings. On their way back to Warsaw, they offered a lift to a group of refugees.

It is impossible to describe the scale of activities that are being carried out not only by the Adventist Church through its institutions, but also, above all, by individual members of the community and local churches.

Many local churches have paused Sabbath services while their premises serve as accommodations. Many people have sacrificed not only their finances but also opened their own homes and welcomed those in need.

After 9 days of war in Ukraine, more than 1 million refugees have fled the country, and almost 650,000 of them have come to Poland. The numbers are growing every day.

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) confirms that this is the largest exodus of this century.

You can support the aid work of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Poland by donating funds directly to the account of the Church Board. Please add the note: Help for refugees from Ukraine.

84 1240 1066 1111 0000 0005 9356
Code BIC / Swift Bank Pekao SA: PKOP PL PW
IBAN Bank Pekao SA: PL 84 1240 1066 1111 0000 0005 9356

Bank Pekao address for transfer:
Bank Pekao S.A.
ul. Grzybowska 53/57
00-950 Warsaw

Daniel Kluska is the Communication and Media Director for the Polish Union Conference, which is part of the Tran European Division of Seventh-day Adventists.

(Top Photo: The Adventist church in Poland, along with other Adventist institutions and organizations, are helping refugees that have fled to Poland by providing shelter, food and toiletries. Photo courtesy of Polish Union Conference.

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