I met a young woman (20), Zosia, who was working the counter of a small bakery. She was moved to go to the border crossing of Hrebenne and volunteer right after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine started. Her boyfriend, a Ukrainian, volunteered as a translator.
“I just had to do something,” she said. “But we were not at all prepared at the beginning, either mentally or otherwise.”
She described a chaotic scene at the start. Supplies started pouring in from all corners – organizations, private donations from people who came and dropped off what they could, etc. The flow of thousands of refugees was overwhelming; they were cold and tired with odds and ends of bags of whatever they could grab before leaving.
“We just started going up to people, asking what they needed and directing them to tents which offered hot food, drinks, diapers, toys… .” Often, she said people would break into tears and cry on their shoulders in relief and in amazement and gratitude at the unexpected welcome they received.
“I was so inspired to help, I didn’t sleep for almost a day,” she said.
It didn’t take too long, however, for things to start getting organized. A key player was the principal of the local school, who together with her team of teachers set up lodging, a distribution system, cooking, cleaning and anything else that was needed. It became a holding area for a few days until refugees moved on. Doctors, lawyers, translators, private vehicles and buses, police and fire departments all worked together.
“I have never seen such great help being extended by Poles as then. It was wonderful!” Zosia said. “I am a young person and what I experienced has taught me that one minute you can have everything and in the next you can lose it all and end up with one bag in another country. We cannot leave anyone without help.”
Zosia has had difficulty coming to grips with her experience. She has trouble sleeping and bad dreams, seeing the refugees over and over again. Hopefully she will take advantage of the counseling I have heard is being extended in places. She is another example of “many small people” who are making a big difference.
Ilona Kwiecien is a Jaffrey resident whose parents were Polish refugees after World War II. Her last Army assignment before retiring in 1998 was as Army attaché in Kiev for 2 1/2 years. She is returning home at the end of this week.