Needed Support for Ukrainian Refugees in Poland

Our names are Dorothy and Kathy Zalewski.  We are raising funds for our cousin Marek Birkenmayer who has been tirelessly aiding and sheltering desperate Ukrainian women and children refugees near Opole Poland since the start of the Russian invasion. Marek, at his own expense, has provided housing to refugees at his home and office, food, clothing, transportation and financial support to the continuous influx of refugees he meets each day. He works around the clock at soup kitchens, refugee stations, and anywhere he is needed. The number of Ukrainian refugees seeking help is growing each day and Marek is overwhelmed emotionally and financially with the struggles of assisting so many.  You may not know that Polish citizens aiding refugees are not receiving government funds, but are helping out of the goodness of their own hearts and personal savings. The donated funds you provide will immediately allow Marek to continue to house, feed, clothe, transport, coordinate documents, and provide travel allowances and translator services to numerous frightened and lost Ukrainian refugees.

Meet some of the families my cousin is currently housing in his home. Ola is a mother of two girls, Maria age 5 and Anna age 22. Maria is seen with the teddy bear my cousin gave her for comfort. She misses her dad so much and clings to Marek each day.  Then there is Maria, a 14-year-old and Victoria 16 years old. Both escaped alone not hearing from their families since leaving Ukraine. All their fathers stayed behind to fight for Ukraine’s freedom.  Marek is also housing Alesia and her two young children who fled their bombed home near Kyiv. Their home is all rubble now. My cousin has also arranged and paid for flights, provided allowance money for another single mother with children to Finland so they can be reunited with relatives. All these families are dependent on my cousin for all essentials, finances and housing since they have no source of income or savings.
(photo of Ola, Maria, Anna and Maria)

Every day brings new challenges and new families needing aid and help. Marek reports this is a fluid state of emergency requiring hands on help from regular citizens as himself.  

Please help us help Marek continue this lifesaving work on the grounds of this humanitarian crisis!

We will be updating you as we gain more information from Marek. Thank you.
(photo of Marek Birkenmayer)