Maria is 85 years old, and winter is closing in fast. In her crumbling home in central Ukraine, she braces for another season of bitter cold. Her house, though familiar, has no plumbing or heat. A Holocaust survivor, Maria has endured war, hunger, and heartbreak since childhood. Now, with failing eyesight and a broken hip, she faces another terrifying situation. She is alone and lacks ready access to food, medicine, and warmth.
"I remember being cold as a child," Maria says. "And I am still cold now."
Maria is one of the last living Holocaust survivors in Ukraine. She was just three years old when the Nazis reached her village. Her father and older brother were taken to a concentration camp, never to be seen again. "I have no memories of them," she laments. Her life has been shaped by war, loss, and hardship. Now, in her final years, she fears her life may end amid another war.
Maria is not alone in her struggles. Across Ukraine and the rest of the former Soviet Union, tens of thousands of elderly Jews—many of them Holocaust survivors—are living in poverty, isolation, and fear. Current data shows that of the more than 200,000 Holocaust survivors still alive today, and more than 70% will pass away within the next decade. The average age of survivors is 87, and many live in remote areas with limited access to food, medicine, or care.
These survivors represent the final generation of living witnesses to one of history's darkest chapters. Their stories are irreplaceable, and their needs are urgent. Many suffer from chronic illness, mobility issues, and trauma. Their vulnerability increases as they age, especially during winter.
Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, life for elderly Jews like Maria has become even more precarious. The war has devastated infrastructure, disrupted supply chains, and driven up the cost of basic goods. Rolling blackouts, skyrocketing inflation, and constant shelling have made survival a daily struggle.
Jewish communities in cities like Odesa, Mykolaiv, and Kherson have been hit hard. Many elderly Jews have been left behind, unable to flee or relocate. A 2023 report described them as "living in the darkness," trapped in freezing apartments with no electricity or heat. For Holocaust survivors, the trauma of war is both physical and emotional. "I was born during a war," Maria says. "And I fear that my life will end during one."
The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews has been working for decades to support impoverished Jews across Israel and the former Soviet Union. A key component of that work has been its Fill the Pantry initiative. Fill the Pantry is a seasonal outreach program that delivers lifesaving food boxes and winter essentials to those most at risk.
Each food box contains staples like rice, flour, canned goods, and cooking oil, which is enough to sustain a vulnerable person for weeks. In addition, recipients receive blankets, heating supplies, and personal visits from Fellowship volunteers. For many, this is their only source of support.
"Kind people from The Fellowship bring me food from far away," said Maria. "Thank you for coming to visit me in this cold weather and for bringing me a warm blanket and food box. I will never forget their kindness."
This year, thanks to a timely matching gift, every donation to Fill the Pantry goes twice as far. That means a gift of $25 can provide food and, just as importantly, hope. Winter in Ukraine is unforgiving, with temperatures routinely below freezing. For elderly Jews living in ramshackle homes with no insulation or heating, the cold is not just uncomfortable—it is life-threatening.
With the ongoing war, the stakes become even higher. Many survivors are cut off from family and medical care, leaving them with no support system. These people are praying for a miracle. And for some, that miracle comes in the form of a food box delivered by a Fellowship volunteer.
As Yael Eckstein, President and Global CEO of The Fellowship, stated, "The health and hope of these destitute and crisis-stricken Jews is in our hands. The Lord calls us to be openhanded toward those who are poor and needy (Deuteronomy 15:11). This is especially important during seasons of increased vulnerability."
Although Maria's story is heartbreaking, it also serves as a call to compassion for people of faith and goodwill. Maria represents the thousands of elderly Jews who have endured unimaginable suffering and now face their final years in poverty and isolation.
Your gift can help deliver food, warmth, and dignity to someone like Maria. And thanks to the matching gift, your impact will be even greater. Your support at this critical time will help The Fellowship's Fill the Pantry outreach deliver lifesaving food and winter essentials to those at greatest risk.
To learn more or make a donation, visit urgentifcj.org or call 866-338-IFCJ.
Robin Van Etten is a seasoned nonprofit professional with 25 years of experience in direct response marketing and fundraising. She is currently the US CEO and Global Chief Operating Officer at the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, a nonprofit humanitarian organization serving the needs of the Jewish population around the world. In 2025, she was named a Notable Leader in Philanthropy by Crain's Chicago Business.