“These handmade angel ornaments will be a treasured keepsake on their Christmas trees for years to come reminding our families of the strong people of Ukraine.”
UPF decided to ask the women of Ukraine to make the ornaments after Tanya’s mother purchased a couple at a humanitarian fundraising event near Odessa in August. Tanya lives in Missouri with her husband “Slavik,” the son of UBTS President and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary graduate Slavik Pyzh.
“At this gathering, they had one lady who was doing those ornaments,” Tanya said, “and my mom bought some as a present to me and to give money to the army.”
Tanya in turn gifted an angel to UPF President W. Joseph Privott, who gave Tanya and her husband a place to stay as they transitioned to St. Louis, Mo.
Privott conceived the continuing exchange to not only thank donors, but also help support Ukrainian families during the war. The nonprofit UPF has supported Christian education in Ukraine, mainly through UBTS, since 2006.
Tanya’s mother recruited additional women to crochet the ornaments, creating a community among strangers now unified in the effort. UBTS collects the ornaments and pays the women from donations UPF sends from donors.
The women appreciate the help, Tanya said.
“They’re just really excited about it, that somebody’s caring about them, and somebody wants to help them so they can help somebody else,” Tanya said, “it’s kind of like a win-win for everybody.”
This article originally appeared here.
