Local groups in this southwestern Illinois city are helping Ukrainian refugees

O’Fallon residents wanting to help with Ukraine relief efforts can lend support through some local avenues — made possible through previously established connections.

An O’Fallon family who hosted a Ukranian exchange student two years ago reached out to the youth’s family to see how they could help. A Methodist pastor has partnered with a church in Poland to help refugees fleeing from the Russian aggression there, and area Catholic parishes are united in helping relief services in a diocesan collection.

Donations to help humanitarian assistance for the more than 2.9 million people in Ukraine affected by the war will be used to provide food, shelter, hygiene supplies, transport to safe areas, counseling support and more.

Michael Horsey of O’Fallon has organized fundraising through his nonprofit organization, Mission 2819, which is focused on Christian missions and based in O’Fallon. They are helping a native Ukraine minister who is aiding refugees across the war-torn country.

“We are supporting Dmytro ‘Dema’ Gryshchuk, who leads the Let’s Love Mission, and is inside Ukraine transporting people to safety. His organization is headquartered in Kyiv, but he had to flee, so is a refugee himself,” he said. “After Dema settled in western Ukraine, he shifted gears and started his relief efforts.”

Horsey said he was spurred into action after seeing the refugees on television news, so he spoke with his board about how they could do something.

He learned about Dema through one of the directors on the Mission 2819 board.

“He hosted a Ukrainian exchange student two years ago. He was in contact with his family and had other contacts he reached out to, and Dema was highly recommended as an ideal person that met what we were looking to support,” he said.

When the board member suggested Dema, Horsey talked to him.

“We had a few conversations. Between that and the videos he posts, I was convinced he was exactly what I had originally thought of,” he said.

Dema posts frequent videos giving updates on his team’s status and work. Horsey shares the videos to his group’s Facebook page,” he said, but shared Dema’s own page, https://www.facebook.com/dema.svyatogor, in case people want to go directly there.

“He is literally risking his life every day,” Horsey said.

“At the end of the day, regardless of what we see in national media or what political beliefs we hold, it’s about humanity and having a heart to help those in need. There are currently three million refugees who have been forced from their homes, in dire need, their lives changed forever. We either close our eyes and ears, pretending it’s not happening, or we can recognize how blessed we are as a country and give up a dime for those in need,” he said.

“Dema himself is a refugee. But he is an example of what we should be. Instead of leaving the danger, he is charging right back into it. He’s risking his life to move women and children to safety and providing humanitarian relief aid to those who need it. If he can do that while being a refugee and under attack, how hard is it to donate a little money to help him?” Horsey said.

Mission 2819’s efforts have raised $5,000 so far.

“100% of any donations receive go to the mission,” he said.

Presence on all 4 continents

Since he founded the organization in 2017, they have grown to have a presence on four continents, working in:

• Asia: Bangladesh, in Dhaka (the world’s most densely populated city) and in remote tribal regions.
• Africa: Cote d’Ivoire, in Agni tribal villages and supporting impoverished children.
• North America: South Texas/Mexico border communities and the local community.
• Europe: Supporting Ukrainian refugees.

Horsey and his wife, Deanna, moved back here after he retired from the Air Force in 2016. Since then, he has made missions part of his second chapter. He also returned to work last March as a civilian in the U.S. Transportation Command at Scott Air Force Base, and was honored as Senior Civilian of the Quarter last summer.

More information about Mission 2819 is on their webpage, Go2819.org, and people can Like/Follow the Facebook page to stay updated: GoMission2819.

People can donate directly on the Mission 2819 page or locate the specific fundraiser that he posted.

“If they don’t use Facebook, they can donate through the website or send a check. Contact details are on the website,” he said.

First United Methodist Church

First United Methodist Church in O’Fallon has been working with a church in Kielce, Poland, for about 15 years. The Polish church is aiding refugees fleeing Ukraine and entering its country.

“Sometimes, you feel so helpless — ‘What can I do?’ I’m so glad we have this connection. This is an opportunity to help, at least with the Polish relief efforts,” Horsey said.

If anyone would like to contribute, his church will make sure the donation goes to the Polish church to help the Ukrainian refugees.

Pastor Don Long Jr. said to make a check out to the First United Methodist Church and in the memo line, write “Ukraine relief.”

“100% is going directly to the people. There is no administrative fee, no bureaucracy, none of that,” he said.

The address is: 504 E Hwy 50, O’Fallon, IL 62269

Catholic Relief Services

Jane Dotson, director of family faith formation at St. Clare of Assisi Church in O’Fallon, said the Belleville Diocese will have a special collection this Saturday and Sunday, March 26 and 27, and people can donate at Masses or online, for Catholic Relief Services.

“We are working in conjunction with that. CRS already has people in place to provide the needed services,” she said.

To give to Catholic Relief Services, visit: https://support.crs.org/donate/donate-ukraine.