Fostering Hope: How the Salvation Army Keeps Ukrainian Refugee Children From Going Hungry

In 2022, Maria and her five young children were forced to flee their home in Eastern Ukraine with whatever they could carry between them. At the time, she didn’t know where her family would be welcomed-- she only knew that, with their home under attack in the Russia-Ukraine War, they could not stay. Her husband Vladimir stayed behind to fight on the front lines. 

For Maria, however, escaping a war zone was just the beginning of the battle for survival. She was now the lone caretaker for her five children while trying to make ends meet in a country that was entirely alien to her. After leaving everything behind, Maria faced a daily decision between feeding her children and providing the clothes and supplies they needed for school.

Maria and her children set up a temporary home in Pernik, a small Bulgarian town outside the capital city Sofia. It was as close to the city as she could afford. She began to work as a dental hygienist, commuting two hours daily into the capital. But it wasn’t just the long commute that was a daily struggle. Maria’s housing costs ate 50% of her paycheck.  

Several months into her new life Maria heard about The Salvation Army’s voucher program that was already offering support to 5,000 Ukrainian refugees like her. The Salvation Army Bulgaria welcomed Maria and her children with open arms, offering not only emotional and spiritual support, but also crucial grocery vouchers. Through the voucher program Maria was not only able to food, but also got help to purchase shoes for her children and the backpacks they needed to carry their books to school. Without the fear of her children going hungry, Maria was finally able to focus on building a future.

“With the vouchers we are preserving people’s dignity and ability to continue to make choices,” said Zoia Marionva, Project Office for Salvation Army Bulgaria.

“The Salvation Army is the only organization in Bulgaria that offers food vouchers. The voucher registration fills up in minutes.”

The Salvation Army’s voucher program has been critical in providing relief to Ukrainian refugees across Europe. In Bulgaria alone, The Salvation Army planned to support 5,000 vouchers annually, but, through careful resource management, collaboration with local groceries, and by supplementing the vouchers through grants, Salvation Army Bulgaria is now serving 9,800 people each year--almost double the original number intended. To help stretch the funds further, the Ukrainian refugees themselves have become Salvation Army volunteers—donating their time to help manage the distribution of vouchers to other families in need.

“We are a family of volunteers, helping others,” one volunteer said.

The Salvation Army’s voucher program supports Ukrainian refugees in Poland, Hungary, Moldova, Georgia, Bulgaria, Romania, Lithuania, Greece, the UK, Slovakia and Latvia. Since Russia’s attack on Ukraine in February 2022, more than 6.3 million refugees from Ukraine have been forced to flee their country and settle elsewhere in Europe (UNHCR data portal). 

At the start of the war, The Salvation Army distributed meals and drinks and provided transport and temporary shelter. Now three years in, The Salvation Army’s work has shifted to focus on basic daily physical and mental needs, including psychological counselling and pastoral care for those suffering from war trauma or stress. It also runs educational programs to highlight the risks of human trafficking.

Maria and her children were one of the first families in the church in Bulgaria, where they have made many friends. Four of the children joined the Children’s Ministry. 

“Maria and her family are a great blessing for our ministry. We thank God that she met us, because just as we help her, she helps us.” said Officer Marionva.

While Maria waits to be able to return to Ukraine and share Christmas with her entire family again, she is serving as a Salvation Army volunteer for other Ukrainian refugees. She now helps distribute the grocery and clothing vouchers that once provided her and her family with relief from the hardships of life as a refugee.