Youngstown & Mahoning Valley - Refugee helpers, part of the Youngstown Area Jewish Federation, returned from their trip to Poland aiding people who crossed the border to escape the violence.

They met to discuss what they saw, and why they say the community's help is going such a long way.

Leaders gathered at the Jewish Community Center to share first-hand messages from refugees after spending a week on the border to aid the Russian-Ukrainian crises.

"I can tell you that the crisis is real," Nancy Burnett, Jewish Community Relations Council Advisory Board chair said. 

They shared more stories of violence and fear refugees have after crossing into Poland, but not knowing where they will go and if they will ever return.

"Think of starting a new life without anything that you had any of your material possessions... all of that unknown," Lisa Long, Youngstown Area Jewish Federation Financial Resource Officer said. 

One woman they met was trying to seek safety at her grandparent's home before fleeing Ukraine but arrived to find the city taken over when she witnessed what she said, did not feel real, as if it was a "film."

"She was living in a cellar that was seven degrees above zero with her grandparents" Long said, "and when they came up they saw Russian soldiers everywhere and watched their grandparents' neighbors be killed right in front of them."

Zina Lerman of Youngstown has family in Ukraine, trying to help them flee to the United States.

Lerman said just hours ago Monday, they were on the phone when her family could hear bombs nearby their home and said she is "very scared" for them.

Not only have refugees lost their homes, but are forced to leave family behind, plus the fathers, brothers and husbands who can't leave Ukraine because of military age restrictions.

"...and so many were so hopeful that they would go back to Ukraine, that they would be able to reunite with family to go back to their homes," Long said, "but as this war keeps going, you just have it in the back of your mind like, is there going to be something to go back to?"

The Jewish Federation raised thousands and took hundreds of pounds in supplies, but they are urging the community to donate more.

Long and Burnett said it's making a difference and witnessed in person how grateful the refugees are.

"If we reach help one more person, that will add up to something really big and meaningful," Long said. 

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