FEATURE

As winter descends upon Eastern Europe, the war continues in Ukraine. Both those who are displaced and those who remain in their homes are facing supply shortages and limited resources. The OPC, working through MTW (PCA Foreign Missions), is seeking to provide humanitarian aid to the people of Ukraine, and we need your help!

MTW has launched an initiative called "Crates for Ukraine" with the goal of gathering and delivering basic and medical supplies to the neediest in Ukraine. This is a practical and urgent opportunity to support efforts to aid our brothers and sisters in Ukraine. OPC Disaster Response has set a goal for the OPC family to pack and send 400 crates by March 16, 2023.

MTW has made it as easy as 1,2,3. They ask churches and groups to: (1) register, (2) donate and gather personal and medical care supplies and pack those supplies into crates, and (3) deliver the crates to Dallas or Chattanooga, from which they will be transported to Lviv, Ukraine. 

Crates for Ukraine is an incredible opportunity to be directly involved in the ministry of mercy internationally to strangers, refugees, and other individuals in distress. While this project provides much needed humanitarian aid to those in need, it is also a clear demonstration of the compassion and love of our Savior, Jesus Christ. We hope you and your church will consider participating!

Here’s how it works:

• Step 1: Register - Go to the Step 1 page

  You will find that you first need to register your participation with MTW. Please note the special instructions on the page above and then head to the red section toward the bottom of the page. Time is of the essence since registration will close on March 1, 2023 and the crates need to arrive in Dallas or Chattanooga by March 16, 2023.

• Step 2: Collect & Pack - Go to the Step 2 page

  You will find there are three types of crates: Basic Wound Care, Basic Meds, and Basic Care. You will find that each registered group is asked to pack at least four crates, as well as the instructions for where to purchase the crates and how to pack them. If your church needs financial assistance, please don’t let that keep you from participating! The OPC Committee on Diaconal Ministries is offering financial assistance to participating OPC churches, as needed. To request financial assistance, apply here.

• Step 3: Deliver the Crates - Go to the Step 3 page

  You will find that you are asked to deliver the crates to a warehouse in Dallas or Chattanooga. (If it seems daunting for your church to be able to get crates to Dallas or Chattanooga, MTW has provided a growing list of local drop-off locations. Scroll to the bottom of the step 3 page to read about other options.)

Are you having trouble picturing your church getting involved? Here are a few suggestions for rallying your congregation:

• Invite another church in your presbytery to help you. Maybe you could fill two crates, and they could fill two! (We encourage a four-crate minimum for participation.)
• Involve your youth group.
• Make this a Sunday school project.
• Throw a "pizza and packing crates night" at church.
• Encourage each family in the church to bring a few items and a handwritten note of encouragement to add to the crates.
• Place crates inside the doorway of your church to be added to each week for a month.
• Encourage your deacons to consider sponsoring this effort.

Currently, the MTW Lviv team is receiving and sending aid in connection with the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Ukraine (EPCU), with whom they have ministered for the past 30 years. MTW hopes to accompany this aid with personal engagement and sowing the seeds of long-term gospel community.

All the details can be found by going to our site or directly to cratesforukraine.com.

If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at diaconalministries@opc.org.