For Immediate Release
Los Angeles
Children’s charity requests donations for supplies, vehicles, fuel, and drivers. Every dollar will be send aid to Ukraine.
Kidsave, a 501(c)(3) non-profit committed to helping older children in foster care in the U.S, and orphans around the world find permanent families, has launched emergency rescue efforts in Ukraine. Already working in-country since 2016, facilitating training, corporate mentoring and family finding for older children and teens, Kidsave has shifted all resources to moving children and families to safety. As of today, Kidsave has transported 187 children and families out of Ukraine.
“Our goal is to move at least 200 children this week to safe locations. In the coming days and weeks, we are working to bring at least 1000 children to safety. There are thousands in need of help, at least 100 in every small village and town in Ukraine,” said Randi Thompson, Kidsave CEO and President.
Each rescue operation takes about 2.5 days to make the 1250 miles round-trip out of Ukraine to Poland, including collecting kids and families from small villages. They experience long delays at the border and getting across Ukraine. However, Kidsave’s team has been successful in getting a special corridor opened at the border of Poland for children and families.
Kidsave is working to grow a small, exhausted, team there and secure volunteers and drivers to move the kids more quickly, as well as more passenger vehicles, and scarce and expensive fuel, supplies and food. Volunteer drivers are joining the effort daily. Once out of the country, Kidsave has identified families and allies, willing to welcome refugees and provide shelter.
Currently, this rescue operation involves children Kidsave recently placed in families and other vulnerable children in families. Kidsave is also working on getting kids still in orphanages to safety. Children whose parental rights have not been terminated cannot be moved without approval of their biological families, who are not reachable during this crisis. Kidsave is working with government authorities, to find a solution in the best interest of these children.
“This is a temporary solution,” said Kidsave partner and representative in Ukraine, Pavlo Shulha, who has been leading these rescue trips. “The children and families we evacuate hope to return to Ukraine as soon as it is safe. If there is a peaceful and positive resolution to this crisis, we will return them home, help them get resettled and continue our work to find permanent homes for children growing up in orphanages. If the situation further escalates, we will need to move to more permanent placement and housing outside of Ukraine for children and families.”
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https://www.kidsave.org/supportukraine
About Kidsave:
Kidsave, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) charity, helps older children and teens living in U.S. residential facilities, foster homes, group homes, and orphanages overseas find forever families and lasting connections. A volunteer-driven effort, Kidsave works with governments and communities worldwide to see that no orphan or child in foster care is forgotten and grows up in a family with love and hope for a successful future.
