UGCC Charitable Initiative “Good Kozyatyn”: we continue to unite for the sake of service

One of the main tasks of Mudra Sprava is to create a platform of interaction for the transformation of society in accordance with the Christian principles of life. This platform involves not only contacts with benefactors, but also the creation of a church network of active parish communities and priests who are ready to change their environment for the better. An example of such effective interaction was the partnership with the parish community of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the UGCC in in the “Good Kozyatyn “charity initiative.

“In 2020, His Beatitude Sviatoslav launched an initiative to set up corners of mercy in UGCC churches and to prepare lunch for the needy on the day of remembrance of the poor. The social service of our community began with this call. We created a Facebook group called “Good Kozyatyn ‘. On this page, we posted an announcement about collecting food for the needy. Many people responded. Thus, despite the lack of finances, we were able to serve people. We visited the families of two parishioners and 14 families with children with disabilities. Then we came up with the idea to make this action permanent and visit the neediest once a month with food that people brought to the chapel,’ says Fr. Anton Borys, administrator of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary parish of the UGCC in Kozyatyn.

Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation, the social ministry of the “Good Kozyatyn” community has grown significantly. Therefore, the community began to create partnerships to help and support war victims, internally displaced persons, military personnel and their families, and those who have lost loved ones.

“An important person for ‘Good Kozyatyn’ is Ms. Tetyana Yakovleva. She has been actively helping from the very beginning and is a practicing psychologist. After February 24, 2022, we started visiting the military of Kozyatyn together. Our joint work has brought good results for the benefit of our defenders,” Fr. Anton continues.

Among the most effective partnerships are the Patriarchal Foundation Mudra Sprava and “Caritas Kyiv”.

“Thanks to the support of the Charitable Foundation ‘Caritas Kyiv’, the small initiative ‘Good Kozyatyn’ is gradually transforming into ‘Caritas Kozyatyn’. We have started to serve more people. Since February 24, 2024, more than 1,000 families have received food packages, hygiene products, children’s clothing and food”.

According to the pastor, in addition to the city of Kozyatyn, they also managed to visit the neighbouring villages: Yuriyivka, Hlukhivtsi, Nepedivka, Bilopillia, Brodetske, Vernyhorodok, Samhorodok and others.

In its “Good Kozyatyn” initiative, the parish community is not limited to distributing humanitarian aid or food packages. The church has a space for adults and children, where meetings and clubs are held daily. These include English for children and adults, Polish for IDPs, computer science, crafts, drawing, stretching, knitting club, speed reading, preschool, choreography, and Sunday school. More than 145 people attend the classes every week.

“We are sincerely grateful to Mudra Sprava for the opportunity to serve the victims of war and those most in need,” said Fr. Anton Borys.

Press service of the Patriarchal Foundation Mudra Sprava