5000 Packages for Ukraine

Project Report – 5000 Packages for UkraineFour Years of War — and the Need Is Still Growing

February 2026 marks four years since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. What many feared would be a short conflict has become a prolonged humanitarian crisis. Winter temperatures, repeated attacks on critical infrastructure, and continued displacement leave millions of civilians struggling to meet their most basic needs.

The “5000 Packages for Ukraine” project was created to respond to this reality. Our goal is simple but essential: provide reliable food assistance to families whose lives have been disrupted by war — both inside Ukraine and among refugees in Poland.

Behind every statistic is a person. The stories below show why this support remains urgently needed.

The People Behind the NumbersLarysa, 82 — displaced from the Bakhmut area

Larysa says she has now lived through two wars. As a child she survived World War II. In 2022 she was forced to flee her home near Bakhmut.

For nearly 50 years she worked as a music teacher, raising generations of students. Today she lives in a small rented apartment with her disabled daughter-in-law and two school-aged grandchildren. Her small pension is mostly spent on medicine.

During air raid alerts she cannot always reach shelters due to severe leg pain and high blood pressure. She remembers standing in long lines at railway stations just to receive a bowl of soup and bread.

“I never imagined that at my age I would have to ask for help just to eat,” she wrote to us.

Food packages allow her family to survive and ensure her grandchildren do not go hungry. She now sings in a church choir and finds strength in the kindness of volunteers.

“I believe Ukraine will endure and peace will come soon.”

Mykola, 64 — caring for his granddaughter alone

During one of the bombardments in his hometown, Mykola lost almost his entire family. His son, daughter-in-law, and relatives were killed. Only he and his 11-year-old granddaughter survived.

They fled without belongings or a plan.

The girl lost both parents overnight. Mykola lost his child and suddenly had to become everything for his granddaughter — grandfather, father, and protector.

For him, a food package is not a gift. It is several days without fear that there will be no bread. It allows him to spend his limited income on medicine and clothing for a growing child.

Humanitarian aid gives him something equally important: the ability to provide safety and a small sense of normal childhood for his granddaughter despite the war.

Olena — a widowed mother of two

Olena’s husband was killed on the front line defending Ukraine. As she tried to help her children understand that their father would never come home, their house was shelled. They also lost extended family members.

In one moment, not only their home but their entire support system disappeared.

Today she is both mother and father to her children. They still ask about their father. Her daily goal is simple — keep them safe and fed.

Food assistance means her children do not go to sleep hungry and allows her a moment to focus on rebuilding their lives instead of constantly worrying about the next meal.

What We Have Done

Since February 2022, the Krakow Food Bank has supported war-affected communities in Ukraine and Ukrainian refugees in Poland. Within the “5000 Packages for Ukraine” initiative (launched July 2024), we have delivered:

237,943 kg of food assistance valued at $809,152.4

Current reporting period (November 2025 – February 2026)

• Poland: 28,809.816 kg | $109,547.2

• Ukraine: 16,065.636 kg | $57,320

• Total: 44,875.4525 kg | $166,867.2

Food reached communities in:
Kherson, Kharkiv, Sumy, Lviv, Zaporizhzhia, Kremenets, Lyman, Poltava, Kyiv, frontline areas, Chernihiv, Zhytomyr, Vinnytsia, Rivne, Donetsk region, Kramatorsk, Ternopil, Zbarazh, Novohryhorivka, Krasnokutsk, Bohatyrivka, Sloviansk, and Izium.

In October we also prepared 10 tons of food, including 750 parcels packed by employee volunteers from International Paper and Discover International, which were delivered directly to families in Ukraine.

Refugees in Poland

Support inside Ukraine is only part of the story.

Kraków alone still hosts over 50,000 Ukrainian refugees. Many continue to face unstable housing, rising living costs, and barriers to employment and healthcare. For elderly people, single parents, and people with disabilities, regular food assistance often determines whether they can pay rent or buy medicine.

Our partner organizations helping deliver assistance include:

• HOPE HARMONY FOUNDATION

• Misja Sowianska w Europie

• Church of Jesus Christ Pentecostal Congregation (Kraków)

• Fundacja Team Kraków

• Salezjanski Ruch Troski o Modziez SALTROM

• Church of God “Grace of Christ” (Kraków)

Why This Matters

Humanitarian aid does more than provide calories.

It provides:

• stability in unstable conditions

• protection of health and hygiene

• psychological relief

• dignity for families who lost everything

• hope that they have not been forgotten

For many displaced people — especially elderly individuals — the choice is often between buying food, medicine, or paying rent. Food assistance prevents that choice from becoming life-threatening.

Gratitude to Our Donors

This project exists because of you.

Your support means a grandmother can feed her grandchildren, a grandfather can care for an orphaned child, and a widowed mother can keep her family together.

Every package delivered sends a powerful message: people far away still care.

Looking Ahead

We continue working toward our goal of delivering 5,000 food packages. The war has entered its fourth year, and humanitarian needs remain high. Energy shortages, winter conditions, and ongoing attacks continue to put civilians at risk.

With your continued partnership, we can respond faster, reach more families, and remain present for those who have lost almost everything.

Thank you for standing with us — and with the people of Ukraine.
Together, we are feeding hope.

Report on the "5000 Packages for Ukraine" Project

Project Overview:
The "5000 Packages for Ukraine" project was initiated in response to the escalating humanitarian crisis caused by the Russian Federation's invasion of Ukraine. Millions of civilians — both those who remain in Ukraine and those who have sought refuge in neighboring countries like Poland — continue to face critical challenges. Through this project, we aim to provide essential food assistance to alleviate the suffering of the most vulnerable.

Project Implementation:
Since February 2022, the Krakow Food Bank has been committed to supporting both war-affected communities in Ukraine and Ukrainian refugees living in Poland. As part of the "5000 Packages for Ukraine" initiative launched in July 2024, we have delivered a total of 199,824.434 kg of food to people in need, with a combined value of $642,285.

Breakdown of support provided from July 2024 to October 2025:

• In Poland: 183,758.798 kg of food worth $547,299

• In Ukraine: 16,065.636 kg of food worth $94,986

In the current reporting period (July to October 2025) alone:

• In Poland: 47,164.48 kg of food worth $136,679

• In Ukraine: 3,045.47 kg of food worth $19,795

• Total: 50,209.95 kg of assistance worth $156,474

Ongoing Efforts and Future Deliveries:
This project continues to evolve. In the second half of October, we prepared an additional 10 tons of food for shipment to Ukraine, including 750 food parcels packed by employee volunteers from International Paper and Discover International. We’ve included photos of these recent volunteer activities.

At the same time, support for Ukrainian refugees in Poland — especially in Kraków, which still hosts over 50,000 Ukrainian refugees — remains a central priority. Many individuals and families continue to depend on food assistance as they navigate economic uncertainty, unstable housing, and barriers to employment and healthcare.

We are also witnessing a rise in anti-Ukrainian sentiment in Polish society, fueled by nationalist political parties. Acts of solidarity with Ukrainian refugees are increasingly criticized by these groups. This growing tension creates an additional challenge for Polish NGOs that have remained committed to supporting victims of the conflict since February 2022.

Long-Term Impact and Sustainability:
The "5000 Packages for Ukraine" initiative continues to support the long-term stability and recovery of vulnerable communities — both inside Ukraine and within the refugee population in Poland. Our efforts strengthen the capacity of local NGOs, reduce food insecurity, and reaffirm our shared commitment to human dignity.

Gratitude to Our Donors
This project would not be possible without the unwavering generosity of GlobalGiving donors. Thanks to your support, food has reached families living in areas affected by shelling in Ukraine, and refugees in Kraków have found comfort, dignity, and renewed hope. Each food package delivered is more than just nourishment — it is a sign that they are not alone.

Looking Ahead
As we continue working toward our goal of delivering 5,000 food packages, we are reminded daily that the crisis is ongoing. Vulnerable populations in Ukraine still urgently need support, and tens of thousands of refugees in Poland continue the long process of rebuilding their lives.

With your continued partnership, we can reach more people, respond more quickly, and ensure that no one is left behind.

Thank you for standing with us — and with the people of Ukraine. Together, we are feeding hope.