The service for homeless people has become a lifesaver for a family with small children.
For many years now, the homeless outreach service of the New Life Christian Mission has been taking to the streets of our city every day. Volunteers prepare delicious hot meals to support those who need it most.
This day was special for us.
We met a young woman named Olesya, who, together with her two young daughters, found herself on the street among the homeless. Their story struck a chord with each of us.
The railway station in Odesa is a place where fates intersect. Someone is in a hurry to do business, someone is waiting for a train, and for someone it is the last refuge. It was there, on a park bench, that Olesya and her children were met by volunteers because they had nowhere else to go.
She noticed a mobile aid station that had arrived that day. The volunteers were not indifferent and immediately approached the woman. During the conversation, Olesya spoke frankly about her desperate situation and admitted that she could no longer cope on her own.
The Mother and Child Project opened its doors to this family - now they are safe, have a roof over their heads, warm food and everything they need for life.
Olesya's story reveals a reality that can affect everyone. She came to Odesa with her partner, the girls' father. Over time, she noticed that her husband started using drugs. Attempts to save the situation ended in a quarrel, and Olesya decided to leave with her children.
At first, they managed to rent a house, but their unstable financial situation did not allow them to continue. Finding a job with two small children was almost impossible. There was no help to be found.
Olesya had lost hope, but it was a meeting with the volunteers of the New Life Mission that changed their fate.
Now Anechka, a three-year-old active and obedient girl, and her two-year-old sister Diana, cheerful and energetic, are growing up in a safe environment.
The family is sincerely grateful for the shelter and the warm hearts of those who extended a helping hand.
They are adapting to a new life and believe in the future again.
